The Women Of Juarez (Las Mujeres de Juarez)

Image used under CC from phoelix

El Paso is a border city that shares its southern wall with Juarez, Chihuahua Mexico. Unlike many bordertowns, the only thing that separates these cities is a very narrow canal: a thinly stretched out portion of the Rio Grande.

As a little girl, I remember going to the market in Juarez, eating & returning home before noon. We would go and stay in Juarez over the weekends. People would walk freely, with little or no concern whether or not they could walk down the street safely.

When in El Paso; if you look towards the southern border, you'll see that Juarez has an enormous Mexican flag that could be seen from many corners of El Paso. I used to stand outside my porch and see this very flag. She would proudly wave at her sister city, flowing gracefully in the wind, welcoming her visitors, and decorating her residents.

Image used under CC from pulverem reverteris

Now that very flag seems to wave violently with the torrential winds, then she succumbs to a very tired, surrendered limp, sometimes she is not there at all. This flag is much like its resident city.

Juarez was a welcoming city, it catered to many tourists, and frequent commute. Today many dark clouds have began to gather over Juarez. Clouds fat with acid rain that keeps most El Pasoans away, and fearful to cross that border. Many El Paso residents only turn to their dear sister city, remember better times, and weep for her from a distance. We sit here day by day and watch her being violated, and mangled before our very eyes.

Ciudad Juarez Mexico, recently became one of the world's MOST Dangerous cities according to Wonders World, Gustey.com, among many others. This recent status has risen due to the death tolls due to drug wars and trafficking (Estimated 120 documented murders per 100,000 residents). In 2008 the death toll was a shocking 1,623, and in 2009 the number skyrocketed to over 2,600 killings. That does not include nonviolent or natural deaths.

Juarez is the face of violent murders, and casualties of drug wars. However, death is no stranger to this city. In recent light to the violent acts of the drug violence, one fails to remember that Juarez already had a dark, a dank shadow hanging over it. In fact it is a parasite that has infested it's streets for many years. It has ripped, raped, and mangled the heart of El Paso TX's sister city. Death claimed the life, and liveliness of the Woman.

Over 400 women missing. 400 women dead. 400! That is 400 too many. 400 is only a number released, 400 is the number of known unknowns. Yet we know that number is a lie, tragically there are more, there always will be

According to the press women have been disappearing by the hundreds (thousands, even, as many have been unreported) since 2003.

"They (she) are our daughters, our sister"
Image used CC: photographer: soaringbird

But this is a problem that has been ongoing before that. I clearly recall news reports of missing women dating back to 1995, one woman, found near a railroad, another found in a desert, and the reports, while scattered, continued to appear. At times, they would find a suspect tied to one or two of the murders. But even though arrests were made in the beginning, women kept disappearing, and bodies kept being found.

Now, due to drug violence, the reports have stopped. But the killings haven't Juarez has a new face, and the women who were already nameless face an even darker fate. I write this in hopes that we do not forget her, the victim that was torn apart from her family, the mother, the daughter, sister, friend and the wife. Because, while the media has focused on Juarez's drug problem, she is still there, face down, in the dirt, her soul crying that someone one gives her a voice, a name, and most importantly, justice.

Permissions Granted photographer: K.Villa

What can these women do to stop this? What can we do to stop this horrendous crime against women, and humanity alike? Who is responsible for all these lives?

What about their Government, & law enforcement? Many have suspected that this very government is responsible for some of these crimes. Men of power, authority, and position. The policemen in Juarez are known for not being 100% straight, which is a shame for the policemen out there try to really do good. But if you've ever gotten stopped by a "federal" you do not know what to expect, they take cruel and unusual means of punishment. Many say they cannot be trusted, and many say the the slayed woman in Juarez is all part of a bigger consipiracy, that the rich and powerful see these women as game, for entertainment, they look for these social "nobodies", women that live "simple" lives, the housewife, the factory worker, the student.

When these occurances first appeared, the media would press that most of the women found dead were involved in prostitution, drugs, and more. Even if this were so, how is this justifiable? Later, it was discovered that women of all walks of life have fallen victim to these cruel inhumane crimes.

"Genocide"
Image used under CC
photographer: pelosbriseno

The government has done almost nothing to find a responsible party. Or to raise awareness. With the mere fact that nothing has been done by local government, puts women in even more danger than they are in. I hate to say that the mentality is even starting to cross the border. I've heard a numberless amount of stories that a man and his wife/girlfriend get in a fight, and the man will be quick to reply, I'll take you to Juarez and kill you, no one will find you there, no one will do anything about it." The most horrifying thing about a statement like that is that it's truly is possible. Violent crimes usually go unsolved in Juarez.

Who can be trusted? No one Who is should be feared. Everyone.

That is it my dear friends, let's not look at numbers, lets look at the Woman, the oneWoman, who has been ripped from Her children, from Her loved ones, who in Her last moments of life, begged for death. She indeed had a name, Her mother cries for Her stil. She also had hopes, and dreams for Herself and Her children. That one Woman who did not deserve such a fate. If we cannot give Her justice, let's just give Her a name, and a face, and spread the word. Because when we raise awareness, we preserve her memory. By raising awareness, we protect Her orphaned children,and Her abandoned daughters. So that they won't have this fate plague their lives. Dare to stand up, and spread the word. Ni una mas (No One More!)

Image used under CC from photographer: pelosbriseno

The city of Juarez in many ways like this Woman, she has no protection from her government, she is the dear mother of many. She too is the woman who has been violated, raped, torn, and killed .Her streets have been stained with blood, her children unprotected and vulnerable. She too has been given a bad name to protect those in power. She is the Woman, lying face down in the dirt, crying out for justice.