Report: Women Routinely Tortured, Abused By Mexican Army, Police
MARFA, Texas — Amnesty International has released a report that details physical and psychological torture of women arrested by Mexico's army and police. This reinforces the United Nations' conclusion that torture is commonplace in Mexico.
In April, a video was leaked showing Mexican police and soldiers suffocating a woman with a plastic bag while interrogating her. It also shows them putting a gun to her head. The woman was later named as 24-year-old Elvira Santibañez, an alleged member of La Familia Michoacana drug cartel. The video sparked revulsion across Mexico and provoked a public apology from the Minister of Defense.
The Associated Press reports the woman is in prison on weapons charges.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International has released a report suggesting what was seen on that video is almost certainly not a lone event. The human rights group interviewed 100 women in 19 states across Mexico who reported violence during their arrests. All described some form of sexual harassment or psychological abuse, including misogynistic insults and threats in the hours that followed.
Thirty-three said they had been raped.
The report was released as Mexican President Peña Nieto traveled to Canada for the "Three Amigos" summit to meet President Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Two Mexican soldiers and three Mexican federal police officers have been ordered to stand trial for torture in this case.
Read Amnesty International's report in its entirety by clicking on the photo:
