Background

• Since 1993, almost 300 women have been found dead in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, many with signs of rape and torture. Between 75 and 90 of these cases show a pattern of serial murder. Since January 2003, the bodies of 8 more women have been found.
  
• The women who have been victims of these crimes are overwhelmingly workers in Ciudad Juarez’s assembly plant industry, are generally between the ages of 15 and 29, and generally disappear during their commute to or from work.
  
• To date, only one person has been convicted in these murders. Abdel Latif Sharif was arrested in 1995 and convicted for the murder of one woman. He has been held in prison since that time. Prosecutors argue that he is responsible for masterminding murders from prison.
  
• Two men were arrested in 1999 for the murders of 20 women, allegedly under orders from Mr. Sharif. In 2001, two more men were arrested for the murders of 8 additional women. All 6 men allege that their confessions to the crime were forced under torture. There is no evidence, other than their confessions, linking these suspects to the alleged crimes.
  
• In February 2002, the defense lawyer for one of the suspects was shot dead by police, who claimed that he was mistaken for a drug trafficker. In February 2003, one of the suspects was found dead in prison under mysterious circumstances.

Investigation

• The investigation into the murders of women in Ciudad Juarez is under the jurisdiction of the Chihuahua State Police.
  
• In 1996 the US Federal Bureau of Investigation studied that pattern of these crimes in Mexico and issued a series of recommendations on how to proceed with the investigation. To date, the State Police have not met any of these recommendations.
  
• Currently, the US FBI is providing training assistance to the Chihuahua police.
  
• In December 2002, President Vicente Fox indicated that the Federal Investigative Agency (AFI) of Mexico would assist the State Police with training and technical assistance.
  
• Mexican activists involved are requesting that President Fox move jurisdiction for these cases to the AFI. To date, President Fox has been unwilling to do so.

Action Points

• Encourage the Mexican government to transfer jurisdiction for investigation over these cases to the AFI. This would also facilitate the investigation of allegations of police complicity and corruption in these cases.
  
• Encourage the Mexican government to investigate the disappearances of women as kidnappings, which would allow authorities to search for them immediately. Currently, the State Police wait 14 days before beginning an investigation for a missing person.
  
• Encourage the Mexican government to provide additional security in areas where women have been known to disappear and along transportation routes.
  
• Encourage the Mexican government to institute a public information campaign on personal security measures for the citizens in Ciudad Juarez.