August 2000

Second part of interview with Martha Figueroa, a lawyer from the women's rights group, Grupo de Mujeres de San Cristóbal in Chiapas, Mexico. Figueroa discusses the Mexican judicial system and how it deals with crimes against women and indigenous communities. In the case of the Acteal massacre, Figueroa says that women's testimonies were not taken seriously, and that survivors were treated only as witnesses rather than victims. She states that government and police were aware of the massacre but did not intervene, thus perpetrating the genocide of the indigenous population. She calls on international organizations like the ICC to respond effectively, and to recognize gender based crimes. She says that the common denominator in the cases of violence against women in Chiapas is lack of access to justice. She then speaks specifically about the case of Sara Santiz, an indigenous woman who was unknowingly sterilized against her will during a hospital visit. B-roll of Martha Figueroa in the office follows. Video cuts to an interview with Guadalupe Cárdenas, coordinator of the Grupo de Mujeres de San Cristóbal, set in a restaurant (not logged or translated).