Deputies endorse up to 22 years in prison for acid attacks

Alma E. Muñoz and Nestor Jimenez

Newspaper La Jornada
Friday March 10, 2023, p. 12

The Chamber of Deputies endorsed modifications to the Federal Penal Code to penalize up to 22 and a half years in prison for those who attack a woman, person with a disability or a minor with acid or corrosive substances.

If they affect more than half of the body, vital organs or functions, or endanger life, it will be considered attempted homicide or femicide. In the opinion approved unanimously – which is sent to the Senate – a paragraph is also added to the General Victims Law to guarantee access to reconstructive surgeries for those affected.

In the case of the amendment to the Penal Code, penalties of seven to 15 years in prison and a fine of 300 to 700 days are established for those who attack another person (regardless of their sex or condition), through attacks, either directly or by an intermediary person, with acid, alkali and corrosive, caustic, irritant, toxic or flammable agent or substance.

When the injury or injuries affect the face, neck, arms, hands or sexual organs of the victim, the penalty will increase up to one third; meanwhile, the sanctions will be increased by up to half in the case of women, people with disabilities or minors.

Anahí González (Morena) stressed that in Mexico there is no database on women who have been attacked with acid, but some figures indicate that there have been at least 3,354 in the last 12 years, of which 270 were admitted to a public hospital; the majority of the perpetrators were men.

The cases of the saxophonist María Elena Ríos, Carmen Chávez, Esmeralda Millán, Elisa Xolalpa and Ana Elena Saldaña were considered an example of the impunity that prevails in the face of this type of violence.

In turn, Monserrat Arcos (PRI) recalled that last year, Myrta Itzel died in the Cuauhtémoc mayor’s office after suffering serious injuries from acid, and Luz Raquel Padilla was thrown alcohol and burned alive, despite the fact that he had denounced a previous attack with chlorine and threats.

In another reform to the Federal Criminal Code, the deputies endorsed sanctions against public servants who delay or hinder the prosecution of justice in cases of femicide, with prison terms of four to 12 years.

During the session, a minute of silence was observed in memory of Arely Pablo, a Mexican who died in the shooting after the kidnapping of four Americans in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, last week.

In the morning, the National Institute for Women signed a collaboration agreement with the Chamber of Deputies to jointly plan, develop and execute activities aimed at strengthening and institutionalizing the gender perspective in the legislative body.