Mexico Indigenous Women in Prison to Have Interpreters for Their Cases Norma Ponce - Milenio
go to original September 13, 2013

Almost 300 indigenous women currently being held in state and federal jails are to receive support during the judicial process following a campaign organized by Inmujeres, the Mexican National Institute for Women. The women will have their cases reexamined, and indigenous language interpreters will be provided.

Cecila García, director general of the Anauatlali Rural Property Rights Association, confirms that there are currently around 8,000 indigenous inmates in Mexican state and federal jails. In state jails 195 of these are women, either sentenced or awaiting sentence, while in federal jails the number is 74.

MV Note: The Supreme Court ruled in January of this year that constitutional guarantees require that indigenous defendants must be provided with legal services and proceedings that meet their cultural needs. There are only ten public defenders in all of Mexico certified any indigenous language.

Read the rest at Mexico Voices

Translated by Catriona McDermid

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