The National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) called on authorities at all three levels of government to strengthen the prevention and protection of children and adolescents, as well as to guarantee effective investigations into cases of sexual violence.
The statement was issued on August 12, after the case of an 11-year-old girl in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, became public. The girl had been approximately five months pregnant, allegedly as a result of sexual violence.
CNDH CALLS FOR INVESTIGATIONS WITH A GENDER PERSPECTIVE
Through a statement shared on its social media accounts, the CNDH said that cases of sexual violence against minors require investigations conducted with the utmost diligence, based on the best interests of the child and incorporating a gender perspective.
“The CNDH, in response to cases of sexual violence against girls, boys, and adolescents in Tamaulipas and Chiapas, calls on authorities at all three levels of government to strengthen prevention and child protection measures, guarantee effective and timely investigations, combat impunity, and ensure victims have access to justice and specialized care,” the organization stated.
Regarding the Matamoros case, the Commission indicated that the girl received specialized medical care and was placed under institutional protection measures. According to information released by the relevant authorities, a legal termination of the pregnancy was carried out.
The CNDH described the case as a serious violation of the girl’s human rights and stated that it demonstrates the continued presence of sexual violence against children and adolescents in the country.
The organization noted that this type of violence can cause physical, psychological, emotional, and social consequences, making it necessary to guarantee comprehensive protection for victims and prevent any form of revictimization.
CNDH POINTS TO OTHER CASES OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST MINORS
The CNDH also mentioned a case reported in Sabanilla, Chiapas, where an Indigenous boy was allegedly the victim of sexual assault. The organization stated that the dissemination of the case on social media drew public attention to the vulnerability faced by minors living in marginalized conditions.
It also referred to the arrest of an alleged sexual offender accused of abusing a four-year-old girl in Nuevo León, who had remained a fugitive for several years. The Commission also mentioned investigations and judicial proceedings involving sexual crimes against girls and adolescents in Puebla, as well as a conviction against a former teacher for child sexual abuse in Mexico City.
The organization stated that, in several of these cases, authorities have reported investigations, arrests, and protective measures for the victims.
CNDH WARNS THAT MANY CASES ARE NEVER REPORTED
The Commission warned that cases that receive public attention represent only a portion of the sexual violence suffered by children and adolescents.
“A significant number of assaults remain hidden due to fear, threats, dependence on the perpetrator, the normalization of violence, or the failure to report and detect cases in a timely manner,” the organization stated.
Given this situation, the CNDH called for institutional and social efforts to be strengthened in the areas of prevention, early detection, reporting, protection, and comprehensive care.
It also urged authorities at all three levels of government to guarantee effective and timely investigations, combat impunity, and ensure that victims have access to justice, specialized care, and comprehensive reparations for the harm suffered.
CALLS FOR SAFER ENVIRONMENTS FOR MINORS
The CNDH also called on mothers, fathers, caregivers, relatives, and those responsible for raising children to strengthen environments of trust with children and adolescents, pay attention to warning signs, and promote safe spaces in homes, schools, communities, and digital environments.
Finally, the organization urged society to report any incident that puts the safety and well-being of minors at risk and to avoid indifference in cases of sexual violence.
“The protection of children is a shared responsibility that requires breaking cycles of silence, promoting reporting, and building violence-free environments for all girls, boys, and adolescents,” the CNDH concluded.
Source: vanguardia
