Information on the protection available to a woman who was kidnapped, raped and became pregnant as a result, on whether there is a witness protection program, and on the adequacy of protection for the victim by the authorities while the matter is before the courts [MEX24723.E]

In a 1 October 1996 telephone interview, a representantive of the Embassy of the United States of Mexico in Ottawa provided the following information.

Protection for kidnapping victims is not offered by the state. For the most part, kidnapping victims will take on whatever protection measures they can personally afford. A program or law to protect witnesses before or after testifying in court does not exist in Mexico, although the Congress is presently formulating legislation to address this issue. At present, an individual who would might find herself in this kind of situation may ask that a police guard be stationed at her house, or hire a private security guard.

The source noted that public ministries offer various services for rape victims and that government agencies investigate sexual crimes. Private and public psychological counselling services and rape crisis programmes exist, as do public community health centers. The source was unaware of the exact number of these types of programmes or organizations. The souce also noted that while there are social workers and organizations that deal with violence against women, the majority of agencies that deal with these issues are research bodies. In reality, there are not many social supports for victims of rape.

Please consult the attached Mexico and NAFTA Report article, which provides information on the creation of Cosena (Consejo Nacional de Seguridad), a national security council. The article states that this recently formed government enforcement agency will attempt to respond to the increasing frequency of kidnappings in Mexico (12 Oct. 1995, 4).

For information on the legality of abortion in Mexico, please consult Response to Information Request MEX24516.E of 12 July 1996. For additional information on violence against women in Mexico, please consult MEX24984.E of 17 September 1996.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References


Embassy of the United States of Mexico, Ottawa. 1 October 1996. Telephone interview with representantive.

Mexico and NAFTA Report [London]. 12 October 1995. "Security: New National Body to Fight Crime."

Attachment


Mexico and NAFTA Report [London]. 12 October 1995. "Security: New National Body to Fight Crime," p. 4.