Chiapas authorities deploy specialists to combat rising feminicide rates

Authorities in Chiapas, Mexico, have announced a specialized operation involving 100 prosecutors and experts to combat a surge in gender-based violence. The initiative targets the Soconusco region, a border area with Guatemala where 50 percent of the state's feminicides occur.

Official data indicates a sharp increase in feminicides, rising from one case recorded between January and July of last year to 10 cases during the same period this year. State Attorney General Jorge Luis Llaven Abarca described the situation as a targeted response to high-impact crimes, including sexual offenses and domestic violence.

Feminist collectives are demanding immediate gender alerts and more concrete actions to address impunity. They highlight that the regional climate of drug trafficking, human trafficking, and irregular migration contributes to the extreme violence facing women in the area.