Mérida’s Clothesline Shames Child Support Debtors in Public

Mérida, Yucatán — The collective Ley Sabina Against Child Support Debtors in Yucatán has erected a public “clothesline of child support debtors and absentee fathers” in Mérida’s Plaza Grande, using purple balloons to symbolize children raised by single mothers. The installation aims to spotlight parental neglect and noncompliance with court-ordered child support payments, mirroring similar virtual campaigns on social media.

Over 300 Documented Cases in Mérida

Ale Castro, co-founder of the Deudores Alimentarios Mérida collective, reported that the group has documented more than 300 cases, with at least 150 mothers actively participating. Despite Mexico’s Ley Sabina being enacted over three years ago to address child support enforcement, Castro noted that Yucatán has yet to implement it effectively due to stalled legal harmonization. This delay has blocked access to government aid for single mothers.

Fathers Fleeing to Yucatán to Evade Accountability

The collective highlighted a growing issue: some delinquent parents relocate from other states to Yucatán to avoid legal repercussions. “We’ve held peaceful protests outside City Hall, but received no response. Women face constant bureaucratic hurdles,” Castro stated.

Call to Action: “Take Your Fear, Queen”

Castro urged women nationwide to publicly expose delinquent parents, especially those in Yucatán: “I was once afraid too, but now I say: take your fear, queen, let’s go to the clothesline and expose your debtor. This is the guarantee we’ll leave for our children.” The group plans to expand the campaign to other municipalities in Yucatán, where impunity and invisibility are more pronounced.