The Missing Women of Ciudad Juarez Morgan Larson and Shea Kennedy

Background Began in 1993 Over 250 women have been murdered “Femicide” Causes: robbery, gang wars, kidnapping, drug cartels Unsure of how many women have actually been murdered One site said 370 ABC News 260 The Chihuahua state government only says 76 women have been murdered At least 400 women are still missing Site where eight women were found dead in 1996

Ciudad Juarez Located across the border from El Paso, Texas Most populous city in the state of Chihuahua (1.3 million) #37 most violent city in the world in 2013 By 2009: Over 250,000 residents left the city to escape the violence from the Mexican Drug War Ciudad Juarez location

The Missing Women Young women Working in informal sectors of the economy Students Physical attributes: dark skin, slender physique, and dark shoulder length hair Many assaulted on their way to work Evidence suggests that there is a specific group on women being targeted Many working in maquiladoras Missing women posters

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4ETx5uK0mA

Leads on the case No leads but many theories -Serial killer -Drug cartels -Gang members -Corrupt police force -Machismo mentality

Movements to end the violence -”No Estoy Sola” -Quick distress call in case of attempted kidnapping or attack -Enters 5 phone numbers into app to send the alert message to -Shake the phone or press a button on the phone -in 2017, the app was only available on Androids but the city says that the app will soon be accessible to Apple phones -Pink crosses “I am not alone.” Alert doesnt go straight to police because the people do not trust the police.

Present day Ciudad Juarez -It is much safer today -7,500 Mexican soldiers -Police reform -Jail reform -Pope Francis visited 2017 -New schools Safer than New Orleans and other big US cities. 7,500 soldiers sent in to reinforce the police officers. 400 officers were fired for colluding with drug dealers. New officers are getting degrees in their field-instead of just primary education. Jails used to be run by cartels. 195 schools have been built since 2010 to keep the kids from getting into the gangs and cartel business.

Discussion Questions What are ways that the government and people of Ciudad Juarez can help to stop the killings? Do you agree with the machismo theory behind the killings?

Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Female_homicides_in_Ciudad_Juárez http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=132653&page=1 https://www.flickr.com/photos/charliellewellin/3489705884 https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/4542094/the-dark-mystery-of-ciudad-juarez-in-mexico-where-1500-women-and-girls-have-been-brutally-murdered-and- dumped-in-the-desert-since-1993/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciudad_Juárez https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/07/10/hundreds-of-women-disappear-in-ciudad-juarez-each-year-a-smartphone-app-could- help/?utm_term=.7b66068738ae https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/centralamericaandthecaribbean/mexico/12155890/How-Mexicos-most-dangerous-city-transformed-itself-to- become-safe-enough-for-the-Pope.html https://revista.drclas.harvard.edu/book/other-side-ciudad-ju%C3%A1rez-femicide-story