Mexico: Treatment of women in the Mexican army, and redress available to those who are mistreated
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 October 1998 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | MEX30169.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Mexico: Treatment of women in the Mexican army, and redress available to those who are mistreated, 1 October 1998, MEX30169.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab455c.html [accessed 21 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
No information on a specific treatment of women in the Mexican army could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
Information on avenues for redress in the Mexican army is scarce.
Various news and human rights reports contain passing references to the existence of military court martials for internal military discipline matters. However, an April 1997 report states that the Federal Army of Mexico is subject to a separate legal regime, the Fuero de Guerra, details of which are largely unknown outside the military institution (CDH Fr. Francisco de Vitoria). In cases of abuse of civilians by military personnel, despite legislation mandating the intervention of civilian authorities, the army has often announced that it would conduct its own investigation and the government National Commission for Human Rights (CNDH, whose role is comparable to that of an ombudsman) has not criticised the decision while civilian authorities have remained uninvolved (ibid.).
A call for an independent rights monitor to address the abuse of soldiers was made by a general, Jose Francisco Gallardo Rodriguez, in 1993. However, general Gallardo was jailed soon after and had various charges laid against him by the army, which the Inter-American Human Rights Commission attributed to his criticism of the army (International Herald Tribune 13 Mar. 1998). He was later sentenced by a military court martial to 14 years and 8 months in jail, for the alleged theft of horse feed and military uniforms, and the burning army documents to cover up the theft (ibid.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
International Herald Tribune [Neuilly-sur-Seine, France]. 13 March 1998. Julia Preston. "Mexican General Gets 14 Years; A Military Court Finds Dissident Guilty of Corruption." (NEXIS)
Centro de Derechos Humanos "Fr. Francisco de Vitoria O.P." A. C., Mexico. April 1997. "Actuacion de la Comision Nacional de Derechos Humanos Frente al Ejercito Mexicano." [Internet]
