Taken during the TPP’s day @ SIPAZ
The Chiapas chapter of the People’s Permanent Tribunal (TPP) held in San Cristóbal de Las Casas its first audience regarding the questions of gender violence and feminicide on 7 and 8 March. It ended with a march from the Hermanos Domínguez theater in the city toward the Plaza de la Paz in front of the cathedral, where there was held a closing ceremony during which participants left candles on top of the word “justice,” constructed from flowers.
During the two days of the audience were exposed emblematic cases such as the multiple feminicide in the Acteal massacre or that of three Tzeltal women from the Altamirano municipality who were raped by soldiers in 1994. The cases presented are supported by organizations such as the Center for Women’s Rights Chiapas (CDMCH), the Ixim Antsetic House of Support, and the Group of Women of San Cristóbal de Las Casas COLEM, among other organizations and collectives. The evidence was presented by some of its victims before a jury comprised of nine women of different nationalities who released their verdict on 8 March.
A women giving her testimony @ SIPAZ
Some of the testimony was narrated by those who experienced it from behind a curtain, given that many are women who still fear for their lives, given the aggressions they have suffered. Martha Figueroa Mier from the Feminist Women Mercedes Olivera Collectives (COFEMO) explained that this was the first time in 17 years that the women victimized by soldiers in 1994 publicly expressed their experiences. In accordance with the testimony of one of the Tseltal women, the aggression occurred “17 years ago, when I was raped by soldiers together with my two sisters; still, to date the government has not made justice for these damages.” Figueroa Mier commented that one of the principal objectives of the work of the People’s Permanent Tribunal is to give a voice to victims.
For more information (in Spanish):
Tribunal de los Pueblos en Chiapas inicia primera audiencia (El Universal, 7 March 2012)
Juzgan ciudadanos abusos contra mujeres (La Jornada, 8 March 2012)
Audiencia del TPP por violencia de género y feminicidio (Cuarto Poder, 8 March 2012)
Se expondrán casos de violaciones a los derechos humanos en mujeres (Cuarto Poder, 1 March 2012)
Realizarán en Chiapas primera preaudiencia de feminicidio y violencia de género del TPP (El Imparcial de Chiapas, 6 de marzo de 2012)
Frayba celebra las acciones por la digna y justa lucha en el día internacional de la mujer/Tribunal de los Pueblos en Chiapas inicia primera audiencia (Zapateando, 8 de marzo de 2012)
Preaudiencia de Feminicidio y violencia de género en Chiapas (Mundo Ciesas, 7 de marzo de 2012)
Audio:
Transmisión de la preaudiencia “Feminicidio y violencia de género en Chiapas”. TPP (TPPChiapas, 6 March 2012)
For more information from SIPAZ (in English):
Permanent Tribunal of the Peoples – Mexico Chapter (14 November 2011)
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