Femicide in Mexico

Mexico has one of the world's highest femicide rates, with as many as 3% of murder victims classified as femicides. In 2021, there were approximately 1,000 femicides, out of 34,000 total murder victims. Ciudad Juárez, in Chihuahua, has one of the highest rates of femicide in the country. As of 2023, Colima State has the highest femicide rate, with over 4 out of every 100,000 women murdered because of their gender. Morelos and Campeche had the subsequent highest femicide rates in 2023.

Mexico has one of the world's highest overall murder rates, and 90% of victims are men. An escalation of violence began in the early 1990s, and was followed by a wave of sexual violence and torture, abductions, and increasing rates of women being murdered because of their gender. While the number of women murdered in Mexico has grown substantially in recent years, the proportion of female victims of homicide has stayed constant over the last three decades. According to the INEGI (Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía), the ratio of homicides targeting women hovered between 10 and 13% between 1990 and 2020.

Up to a third of female murder victims in Mexico are murdered by their current or ex-partners. This violence has been attributed to the backlash theory, which alleges that as a marginalized group gains more rights in society, there is a violent backlash from their oppressors. Notably, Indigenous women—who make up 15% of the population—are at a higher risk of gender-based violence like femicide due to economic marginalization and limited access to health and government protections. Additionally, with geographic isolation and gender inequality, there are minimal methods of effective intervention and victim support. The response from the Mexican government has been minimal; there is very little legislation protecting women. This lack of response further discourages individuals or groups from speaking out about or challenging this phenomenon. Local police and government officials are known to dismiss instances of women going missing, and have been found to be connected to some cases of violence against women. There have been many small feminist movements that have attempted to bring attention to the level of violence Mexican women face. These movements primarily focus their efforts on demonstrations, sharing their own experiences, and creating works of art to express their frustrations.

Mexico officially began documenting femicide cases in 2012. In 2021, roughly 3% of murder victims (~1,000 out of 34,000 total) were classed as femicides. On average, ten girls or women and 100 boys and men are killed daily in Mexico; it is estimated three femicides take place each day. The high murder rate in the country has continued to make international news, while directing attention to the abilities of Mexican authorities to deter crime and violence.