During 2024, associations like Nosotras Nosotros (We Are the Ones) treated approximately five cases of women with severe malnutrition, reported its president, Selene Name. She stated that these are only the statistics available to this civil society organization. However, many cases in indigenous areas go unrecorded, including deaths due to these customs and practices, which ultimately constitute sexist, patriarchal behavior.
She asserted that unfortunately, these types of behaviors prevail in communities, even though some constitute violence. Among them is women and children eating last, which is why malnutrition is a serious health problem, commented Selene Name, a human rights activist.
Indigenous communities in Durango
This has resulted in the loss of human lives, such as the recent death of a four-year-old boy who allegedly died as a result of malnutrition in an indigenous shelter located in the capital of Durango.
“We call on legislators and the State Human Rights Commission to pay attention to this issue, because customs and traditions cannot be placed above the rights of all people,” said the human rights activist.
She also emphasized that two out of every 10 women who ask for help are indigenous, since unfortunately, the culture that men eat first, then boys, then girls, and finally women, still prevails in communities in mountainous areas, where there is also a high and very high rate of marginalization.
She added that not only have children died from malnutrition, but women have also died from the same cause.
Poverty in Indigenous Communities
The president of the Nosotras Nosotros association (We Are the Ones Who Eat) believes it is urgent for government institutions, legislators, and civil organizations to come to an agreement on the work being done on this and many other issues.
Another problem stemming from the lack of food resources is that children don’t go to school. Mothers choose not to send their children to school when they don’t have money to send them lunch or a snack; these are definitely very critical situations.
The interviewee acknowledged that Governor Esteban Villegas is doing his part by supporting women with the Tarjeta Madre (Mother Card). “We are now using the gray card, which provides food support, which is very beneficial. The fact that eggs and other products are distributed is a great support for women who are truly in need,” she indicated.
At the same time, she acknowledged that the state government has sought to support families through the Tarjeta Madre (Mother Card), which provides them with food support.
Source: oem
