Violence is a structural problem that affects migrant and refugee women differently, due to different causes and structural barriers. This group usually lacks access to support networks in the countries or cities of destination, which makes their integration process even more difficult and places them in a situation of greater vulnerability.
The events
On Saturday, January 23, 2020, an 18-year-old Venezuelan migrant went to her first day of work at a uniform sales shop called “Uniformes Garzón” on Calle Paso 600, in the Buenos Aires neighborhood of Balvanera, Argentina, where the owner, Irineo Humberto Garzón Martínez, drugged and sexually abused her [1]. Days before, the young woman had seen a vacancy for store assistant published on a Facebook group and proceeded to apply.
On her first day of work, the young woman noticed strange situations and sent a series of messages to her mother to warn her that she did not feel comfortable: “I want to leave, I’m very scared,” she wrote [2]. She soon warned that she felt dizzy, while her hands were going numb and Garzón closed the premises. The victim’s mother, Thays, quickly called the police. Garzón was caught red-handed. Forensic studies of the woman have confirmed signs of sexual abuse. Although Garzón was denounced for “sexual abuse with carnal access”, he was only detained for a few hours, as he was released by judge Karina Zucconi with a personal bond and now has been summoned to testify through the zoom platform since the judge considered that the man has no criminal record and will not try to interfere with the process. However, the prosecutor Silvana Russi [3] and the defense attorneys demand his arrest, since they allege risk of flight.
The release of the perpetrator and a judicial process that fails to provide the guarantees due to the victim risk repeating the story of Marianela Rago, whose femicide was released 10 years ago by the very same judge, Karina Zucconi [4].
The Context of Venezuelan migrant women
The Venezuelan human mobility crisis is characterized by a forced displacement motivated by the complex humanitarian emergency that exists in the country. This situation affects women differently and their displacement exponentially increases their risk of suffering violence [5]. When they migrate, the circumstances of discrimination and violation against them increase, both in transit and host countries, since other factors add up, such as migration status, being a foreigner, the possibility of suffering from acts of xenophobia, among others. Consequently, this particular situation of migrant and refugee women, who are at particular risk of experiencing violence, should be analyzed and human rights and gender approach should be incorporated into the treatment of these cases.
According to figures from the NGO Cepaz, at least 56 Venezuelan women were victims of femicide abroad from January to November 2020 [6]. On the other hand, a report by the Observatory on Crime of the Public Ministry of Peru (the Prosecutor’s Office) revealed that 15 Peruvian and 3 Venezuelan women were victims of femicide, the latter members of the largest community of foreigners in Peru, with more than 800,000 members [7]. Additionally, the organization Fundación Pro Bono de Venezuela (Provene) established that “the strategy of attracting immigrant victims has become, unfortunately, a constant in Argentina, given that they are women who urgently need work and many times are in an irregular situation; so they are less likely to file a complaint” [8].
The peculiarities and risks of the feminization of migration are serious and have their roots in the violence and structural discrimination that unfortunately characterize the region [9]. To the aforementioned must be added a continuous exposure to discriminatory and xenophobic treatment that limits women’s access to resources and rights such as health care, education, work and housing and that has particularly affected the Venezuelan population at times of a pandemic.
Violence is a structural problem that affects migrant women differently for two reasons. This group usually lacks access to support networks in the countries or cities of destination, which makes their integration process even more difficult and places them in a situation of greater vulnerability. If their migration status is irregular or if they have a migration procedure in progress that depends on the status of their aggressor, they will have greater distrust or fear when they need to approach the authorities to report.
A call to protect the rights of migrant and refugee women
States have the responsibility to act with due diligence in cases of sexual and gender-based violence. It is important to highlight, as the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has done, that “the lack of due diligence to clarify and punish such acts (…) sends the message that such violence is tolerated, thereby fueling its perpetuation.” [10]
Additionally, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights has been emphatic in reminding the States their obligation to adopt norms or implement the necessary measures, pursuant to Article 2 of the American Convention and Article 7.c) of the Belém do Pará Convention, to allow the authorities to offer a due diligence investigation in cases of violence against women [11]. The Inter-American Court has mentioned that judicial ineffectiveness in cases of violence against women may in itself constitute a form of gender-based discrimination, since the lack of prompt, exhaustive and diligent investigation promotes the repetition of the crimes, sends the message that violence against women is tolerated and accepted, generates distrust and insecurity in women and favors its repetition [12].
Justice operators, for their part, must comply with due diligence standards to prevent, investigate and punish acts of violence against women quickly and without delay, as well as implement actions to eradicate discrimination and stereotyped patterns that promote a substandard treatment in society [13].
The petition
The organizations, groups, defenders, activists and women who sign this statement express our rejection of the acts of violence suffered by the Venezuelan migrant woman in Argentina, and additionally reject the decision of Judge Karina Zucconi, who, upon knowing these facts, decided to release the perpetrator. Furthermore, we express our concern and dismay at the particular situation faced by migrant women and girls and the risk that sexual violence perpetrated against them goes unpunished.
In consequence:
1. We demand an impartial, prompt, exhaustive and diligent investigation into the case.
2. We make a special call to the Argentine State and the receiving states of Venezuelan human mobility, in particular to the judge, to guarantee access to justice for the Venezuelan migrant woman victim of sexual violence and for all women victims of sexual violence, where equality and non-discrimination with an intersectional perspective and free of stereotypes is guaranteed.
3. We demand to submit the decisions of the judge to review, in order to check if this decision and others comply with international standards on the matter.
4. We request the receiving states to adopt all measures to prevent and eradicate violence against women and incorporate an intersectional perspective that considers the vulnerabilities of migrant women in particular, taking into account the special needs of the Venezuelan migrant population.
5. We insist on the importance of training justice operators to pass judgment with gender and intersectional perspective.
Signatories
Organizations and networks
1. CEPAZ
2. Uquira
3. Venezolanas Globales
4. ACCSI Acción Ciudadana Contra el SIDA
5. Ambar Asociación Civil
6. Asociación Civil Gurrufio
7. Asociación Civil Vida y Luz(Asoviluz)
8. Asociación Venezolana en Chile
9. AuroraMadre
10. Caleidoscopio Humano
11. Centro de Estudios de Género de la Universidad Simón Bolívar
12. Centro de Estudios de la Mujer CEM UCV
13. Centro para la Reflexión y Acción Social (CERLAS)
14. CISFEM (Centro de Investigación social, formación y estudios de la mujer)
15. Clínica Jurídica para Migrantes de la Universidad de los Andes
16. Coalición por Venezuela
17. Comunica ONG
18. Coordinadora de Lucha Vecinal Lara
19. Cuerpo Diplomático Mundial de Paz en Paraguay
20. Deconstruyentes
21. Defensa en Acción, Alejandra Olivares Hidalgo
22. Defiende Venezuela
23. Éxodo
24. FeminismoINC
25. Foro internacional de Migración Haitiana en las Américas
26. Fundación Iribarren lucha (ONG DDHH)
27. Fundación Lucelia
28. Fundación Pro-Defensa del Derecho a la Educación y la Niñez Venezuela
29. Fundación Vida Jurídica Diyuly Chourio
30. Grupo de Estudios sobre Migraciones Internacionales y Vulnerabilidad (GEMIV) de la Universidad Santo Tomás Colombia
31. Hearts On Venezuela
32. Hombres por la equidad e igualdad
33. Isadora, Mujeres en Lucha de Argentina
34. Juventud Unida en Acción
35. Las Comadres Púrpuras
36. Las Piloneras
37. Método Wom
38. Monitor de Derechos Humanos
39. Movimiento Creando Ciudadanos (MOCRECI)
40. Observatorio Venezolano de DH de las Mujeres
41. Observatorio Venezolano de Prisiones
42. ONG Prevención VCM
43. Organización Huella Femenina Venezolana
44. Red de Activistas Ciudadanos por los Derechos Humanos (Redac)
45. Red de Organizaciones de Derechos Humanos del Estado Anzoátegui Venezuela, REDHANZ
46. Red de Periodistas Venezolanas
47. Red Justicia y Libertad Mujeres Capítulo Portuguesa
48. Sobrepasadas
49. Unión Afirmativa de Venezuela
50. Unión Femenina Venezolana
51. Venezuelan Workers Solidarity
52. Venezuelans and Immigrants Aid, Inc.
53. Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA)
54. Women Empowerment Laboratory (WELab)
55. Women Riots
56. Women’s Link Worldwide
57. Centro de Derechos Reproductivos
Individuals
1. Abg.Claudia Hurtado
2. Abg. Sarita Montiel Ramírez, activista y defensora de ddhh
3. Adaly Molina
4. Adriana Flores Márquez
5. Amaluz Angarita
6. Amanda Gómez, VWS
7. Amelia Kepp defensora
8. Ana Labrador, Defensora
9. Ana María Pinzón
10. Ana Orrego
11. Ana Teresa Trujillo Arroyo, Venezolanas Globales Perú
12. Anabel Perez
13. Anais Flores, defensora
14. Andrea Falcón, Activista por los derechos de la mujer.
15. Andrea Paola Hernández, activista
16. Anna Currilla, activista
17. Antonella Rojas
18. Arcangel Mosquera
19. Athenas R García – Empresaria
20. Belén Yanacón, abogada.
21. Belkis Moreno, periodista
22. Blanca Martorell, Psicóloga Feminista
23. Briceida Morales. Periodista- Defensora
24. Carlos Teran
25. Carmen Oropeza, Activista
26. Claudia Rodríguez Gilly Activista
27. Cristina Rondón
28. Dalida Stacchiotti
29. Dani Lara, defensora
30. Daniela Castillo, Defensora de los Derechos Humanos
31. Daniella Guerra
32. David González
33. Dayana Querales, defensora
34. Desireé Lugo, activista
35. Dexy trejo, defensora de los ddhh
36. Dhayana Fernández-Matos, docente UCV
37. Diana Camacaro defensora de los derechos de la mujer.
38. Diana Farfán Defensora
39. Diana Merchán Pérez-Perazzo, activista DDHH
40. Diana Moncada, mujer, periodista
41. Dickson Segovia Activista y Defensor de los DDHH
42. Diego Alejandro Oviedo
43. Dorkis Castro
44. Dra. Thairi Moya Sánchez
45. Edmirya González
46. Eduard Rondón, Defensor de DDHH
47. Eilidibeth Córdova, defensora.
48. Eleida Pérez
49. Gabriela Buada
50. Gabriela Rodríguez
51. Gaselys Montilla
52. Georgia Rothe, experta en violencia de género.
53. Gioconda Cuevas , Profesora
54. Giovanna colón
55. Gleismar Álvarez
56. Griselda Barroso Morgado
57. Heidi Sánchez, activista
58. Helen Cristina Chávez
59. Hermanlyg Rios, defensora
60. Hisvet Fernandez
61. Ing. Vicsaly Lucena, activista y defensora DDHH
62. Isabel Zerpa Albornoz, Directora del Centro de Estudios de la Mujer, CEM UCV
63. Isabella Polito
64. Janeth Calderon
65. Jesús Gerardo González
66. Jesús Gerardo González
67. Jose Antonio Oropeza
68. José Gregorio caribas Goyo
69. Juan Carlos Perez Garmendia
70. Juan Vasquez Salinas
71. Juana Solari
72. Karla Ávila Morillo, directora de Fundación Lucelia
73. Katherine Martinez Defensora de DDHH
74. Leonela Rey, defensora.
75. Leticia Diaz
76. Leydis Aponte
77. Liliana Araujo, Trabajadora Social
78. Liliana Buitrago, investigadora y activista
79. Linda Loaiza, Abogada, defensora de DDHH, Victima y sobrevivientede esclavitud sexual y tortura.
80. Lisbeth Cordero García
81. Liz Mercado, defensora
82. Ludmila Del Rosario Gil
83. Magalí Bergera
84. Magaly Huggins, Defensora de los Derechos Humanos de las mujeres
85. Malu Valerio
86. Manuel Guzman, defensor DDHH
87. María Alessandra Bastidas, mujer.
88. Maria Andreina Caraballo. Embajadora Venezolanas Globales
89. María Corina Muskus, Directora de Venezolanas Globales
90. Maria de los Angeles querales
91. María Fernanda Montero. Ciudadana
92. María Fernanda Montilla, defensora.
93. María Fernanda Pereira
94. María Gabriela Delgado, defensora
95. María Guadalupe
96. Maria Laura Chang
97. María Pérez
98. Mariana Fernández, Feminista
99. Mariana Vahlis
100. Mariandreina Montilla
101. Marianela Pinzón, mujer,madre, abuela, hermana y tía de mujeres
102. Mariangel Maldonado, miembro HFV
103. Mariángel Paolini Padrón, VG
104. Marieglis Martínez
105. Mariela Little Periodista
106. Mariela Suarez
107. Meche Robles
108. Megdelyn Campos
109. Melanie Agrinzones, cofundadora de Uquira
110. Michelle Alva
111. Miguel Ángel Hernández,profesor universitario
112. Miguel Salas
113. Militza Perez Guevara
114. Morella Ortiz, VWS
115. Morella Ortiz, VWS
116. Naidely Zambrano
117. Naomi Arnaudez, mujer.
118. Natalia Pérez León, abogada
119. Natalia Popowski, psicóloga
120. Nelly Garcia Oberto
121. Nelsy Malavé
122. Ninoska Zambrano Activista
123. Nohelia Urbina, cofundadora de Uquira
124. Norma Ferrer, defensora
125. Omar Vázquez Heredia.Investigador académico
126. Oswin J. Barrios
127. Paola López
128. Paola Olarte, mujer
129. Paola Virginia Albornoz
130. Patricia C Rojas, activista por DDHH
131. Patricia Dominguez
132. Patricia Pérez Muskus
133. Paula Fernández
134. Penélope Longart, defensora
135. Raiza Diaz, defensora
136. Ramón Itriago
137. Ramona Torcates, defensora
138. Rosa Elena Acevedo, promotora de Derechos Humanos
139. Ross Ortiz
140. Roxana Vaccarezza activista por la Infancia. Miembro de la Red De Protección Iberoamericana por la Infancia
141. Roxana Vivas, defensora
142. Sambueza Verónica Noelia,defensora
143. Sarina Rojas, defensora
144. Sergio Ortiz
145. Sunilde Fernández
146. Tauly Chacón
147. Thailiana Marcano
148. Thaimí Marcano, activista
149. Tibisay Guerra
150. Vanessa Blanco, activista
151. Vanessa Castillo, integrante de VG
152. Vanessa Robertazzo
153. Verónica Arvelo
154. Verónica Colina, activista de derechos humanos
155. Vittoria Coccorese
156. Xili Fernández, politóloga especializada en refugio y migraciones
157. Yajaira Rivero, Defensora
158. Yasmin Fernández
159. Yendri Velásquez
160. Yesenia Quintero
161. Yolima Arellano, Defensora de DDHH de las mujeres
162. Yonellys Padilla
163. Yorgelina Stanley, activista
164. Yoselin Fernández
165. Zahynee Mendoza
166. Zezarina Guevara Defensora DDHH
167. Zulay Melendez
168. Zuleyma Polanco
References
[2] https://www.elmundo.es/internacional/2021/01/29/6014312cfc6c839e1e8b4592.html
[6] https://cepaz.org/tema/mujeres/
[9] https://www.dejusticia.org/column/ser-mujer-migrante-en-epocas-de-pandemia/
[10] http://www.cidh.org/women/Access07/tocaccess.htm
http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2020/166.asp
[11] https://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/casos/articulos/seriec_362_esp.pdf
[12] https://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/casos/articulos/seriec_362_esp.pdf Par. 223
[13] https://scielo.conicyt.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0718-52002014000100002
Translated by José Rafael Medina
