Child Abuse Cases Stalled in Quintana Roo Justice System

Quintana Roo, Mexico — Quintana Roo faces a serious crisis in access to justice for girls and boys who are victims of sexual violence, with over 150 cases unresolved due to the lack of specialized personnel in child forensic evaluations within public institutions, according to feminist collectives in the state.

Near Total Impunity in Child Sexual Abuse Reports

Ariadna Song Anguas, a member of the Colectivo Xtabay and spokesperson for various feminist organizations, warned that only 0.10 percent of reports of child sexual abuse in Quintana Roo manage to be linked to legal proceedings, according to records from the collectives themselves.

This figure reflects, she said, a structural failure of the justice procurement and administration system, particularly in cases where the victims are minors.

Emblematic Case: Three-Year-Old Child and a Fugitive Alleged Aggressor

During a press conference by the Frente Feminista Quintana Roo, activists presented the case of a three-year-old boy allegedly a victim of sexual abuse by his father, identified as Carlos Anastasio “N,” who is currently a fugitive.

Events Occurred in Playa del Carmen

The events were recorded in April of last year in Playa del Carmen. Given this situation, the collectives announced a demonstration to demand that the injunction promoted by the accused before the Fourth Federal Court be denied.

Judicial Omissions and Lack of Childhood Perspective Highlighted

Song Anguas denounced that the Judicial Power of Quintana Roo has already ruled in the first instance against the victim, after Judge Fernando León rejected the linkage to proceedings, despite—she asserted—evidence and specialized evaluations being presented, including the statements of the minor.

The activist stated that the judge ignored fundamental elements and did not apply a childhood perspective, which is indispensable in this type of crime.

Absence of Specialists Hinders Judicial Processes

Inadequate Evaluations for Children Under Seven

The collectives emphasized that sexual crimes against minors often occur in environments of trust and without witnesses, therefore requiring highly specialized evaluations.

Ariadna Song explained that girls and boys under seven years old cannot be evaluated by general psychologists, but rather by specialists in childhood, child psychiatry, and sexual abuse, who are capable of interpreting symbolic language, behavioral expressions, and emotional changes.

Over 50 Active Cases and At Least 100 at Risk of Impunity

Currently, feminist organizations are accompanying more than 50 active cases, and they estimate that at least another 100 are in similar conditions, many of them corresponding to girls and boys as young as two or three years old.

However, they denounced that there are not enough professionals with this profile in the public institutions of Quintana Roo, which keeps the processes stalled.

Criticisms of the Prosecutor’s Office, DIF, and Other Agencies

Song Anguas questioned that agencies such as the State Attorney General’s Office, the Executive Commission for Victim Assistance, the DIF, and the Office for the Protection of Children and Adolescents do not allocate resources to hire specialized personnel.

Furthermore, she rejected the notion that the reports stem from personal conflicts, clarifying that in the case presented, the mother acted from the first suspicion through institutional channels, with evaluations conducted by public agencies and certified specialists.

Lack of Resources and Judicial Sensitivity, an Additional Obstacle

Finally, the activists warned that the lack of economic resources to hire private lawyers, combined with the absence of sensitivity in some judges, deepens impunity and re-victimizes girls and boys who are victims of sexual violence in Quintana Roo.