HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

179

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

urging congress to request the government of mexico to investigate and terminate the kidnapping, rape, and murder of the women in juarez and chihuahua, mexico.

 

WHEREAS, on August 12, 2004, the Chairs of the Senate Committees on Labor and Human Services held a joint informational briefing that included the screening of a film by Lourdes Portillo entitled "Senorita Extraviada, Missing Young Women"; and

WHEREAS, the film screening was co-sponsored by several organizations, including the Domestic Violence Clearinghouse & Legal Hotline, the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the Hawaii State Coalition Against Sexual Assault, the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Na Loio-Immigrant Rights & Public Interest Legal Center, PACT Family Peace Center, and the Sex Abuse Treatment Center; and

WHEREAS, those who attended the informational briefing and film screening were profoundly touched by the story of these abducted, abused, and murdered women, which prompted their united plea to the President of the Republic of Mexico and the Governor of the State of Chihuahua in the form of a signed petition prompting government action to stop the violence and killings; and

WHEREAS, the film depicted a disturbing situation which has occurred and continues to persist in Juarez and Chihuahua, Mexico—the kidnap, rape, and murder of over four hundred women over a ten-year period; and

WHEREAS, as demonstrated in the film, the expansion of factories owned by United States citizens and businesses has generated a substantial influx of young women workers into Juarez and other outlying communities, including Chihuahua, Mexico; and

WHEREAS, over the past ten years there have been numerous disappearances of young women in these areas who have later been discovered in mass graves in the desert; and

WHEREAS, although the Mexican authorities have made efforts to contend with this most disturbing situation, residents of Juarez and Chihuahua continue to live with aggravation and fear; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature of the State of Hawaii is deeply concerned for the plight of the young women of Juarez and their families; and

WHEREAS, the unnecessary violence against these women and their tragic deaths should not be condoned or tolerated; and

WHEREAS, additional efforts should be made to assist the families of the abused and murdered women as well as to safeguard others from falling victim to this horrifying occurrence; and

WHEREAS, it is the responsibility of those in power to take any necessary action in order to promote and protect the basic human rights of those they govern; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, the Senate concurring, that the United States Congress is urged to request the Mexican Government to make every effort to ensure that the kidnap, rape, and murders of the women of Juarez and Chihuahua, Mexico, are investigated, and that the kidnappers, rapists, and murderers are brought to justice expeditiously; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Congress is urged to aid in ascertaining the root cause of this tragic occurrence and to ensure that all avenues are explored in order to discover a solution to this horrific problem, so as to prevent further similar incidents of abduction, abuse, and murder of the women in these communities; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to all members of the United States Congress.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Women of Juarez and Chihuahua; Kidnapping, Rape, and Murder