Violence Against Women: Mexico apologizes for failing to protect women slain in Ciudad Juarez

AP/The Washington Post: "Mexico’s government publicly apologized on Monday for failing to prevent the killings of three women in the border city of Ciudad Juarez and for the negligence of officials in investigating the crimes. The apology is a response to a 2009 ruling by the Interamerican Court of Human Rights that besides seeking an apology, also asked Mexico to reopen investigations into the cases and to erect a memorial site in the empty lot where the bodies were found in 2001.

“We apologize. It is our obligation to investigate these crimes,” said Interior Deputy Secretary Felipe Zamora at an event in the half-finished memorial. The Mexican government recognizes “the inconsistencies, errors and negligent acts of public officials in charge of the probes,” he added. Zamora didn’t say when or if the investigations would be reopened.

Relatives of slain women nearby shouted demands for justice. “We don’t want mausoleums, we want investigations that can let us know where our daughters are and who killed them,” said Jose Luis Castillo, whose daughter Esmeralda has been missing since 2009."