NOW Applauds Passage of Rep. Hilda Solis' Juárez Resolution
House Expresses Support for Families of the U.S. Border City

May 3, 2006

En Español

The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously approved House Concurrent Resolution 90, legislation authored by Rep. Hilda Solis (D-Calif.) to address the disappearances and murders of more than 400 women in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico.

The National Organization for Women launched its "Women of Juárez—Stop Femicide" campaign in December 2005, calling for an investigation of these murders which to date, continue to occur. NOW members, chapter activists and supporters have been raising the visibility of this issue through a vigorous, multi-strategy campaign.

Passage of the resolution is just one step among many needed for the families of Juárez to address this human rights tragedy. In her statement after passage of the resolution, Rep. Solis said: "Bi-national cooperation between the U.S. and Mexico will help bring an end to the murders of women in Ciudad Juárez and closure to their families."

Some of the highlights in the resolution include: Condemning the abduction and murders of young women in Cuidad Juarez and the city of Chihuahua in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico. To support multilateral efforts to create a DNA database that would allow families to positively identify the remains of the victims. It also condemns the use of torture as a means of investigation of these crimes. The resolution calls for condemning all senseless acts of violence in all parts of the world, and in particular violence against women.

The next step in the legislative process is for the Senate to pass an identical resolution. Senate Concurrent Resolution 16 was introduced by Sen. Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico and has 18 co-sponsors, including four Republicans. NOW is calling on women's rights supporters to take action by asking their senators to co-sponsor Sen. Bingaman's resolution.

NOW thanks Rep. Solis for her leadership and commitment to help raise awareness about this issue. Rep. Solis almost single-handedly brought this issue to the U.S. Congress, and lawmakers listened. As a child of immigrant parents—her father, a Mexican immigrant—Rep. Solis has finally given the women in Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua hope.

NOW Executive Vice President Olga Vives says: "We cannot stand by as brutal murders of women and girls happen in Ciudad Juarez, a city just minutes from the U.S. border. These crimes must be stopped and they must be solved."

More information and materials on NOW's Women of Juarez campaign are available on NOW's website.

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For Immediate Release
Contact: Latoya Veal w. 202-628-8669, ext. 116, c. 301-660-3447

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