House Subcommittee Unanimously Approves Resolution on Juarez Murders

The House International Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere has unanimously approved a resolution authored by Congresswoman Hilda Solis (D-CA) that addresses the violent murders of women in border cities of Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua, Mexico. The resolution denounces the murders and asks that the United States government engage the Mexican government in order to solve the open cases and work to prevent any more deaths. Most of the murders have gone unsolved, and human rights groups have faulted the local government for mishandling the investigations.

While 370 murders have been acknowledged by the Mexican government, the actual number of deaths is thought to be higher. As the resolution notes, of the 370 women murdered, 137 were also sexually assaulted. Congresswoman Solis noted that “these acts are more than just crimes – they are horrific violations of women’s rights and human rights.”

The resolution, House Concurrent Resolution 90, has 133 bipartisan cosponsors. The resolution will now go to the full House International Relations Committee.

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Media Resources: Amnesty International news report 2/28/05; House Concurrent Resolution 90; press release from the office of Congresswoman Hilda Solis 11/2/05; El Paso Times 11/3/05

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