Conveying the sympathy of Congress to the families of the young women murdered in the State of Chihuahua…

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on May 2, 2006. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Condemns the ongoing abductions and murders of young women in Ciudad Juarez and the city of Chihuahua in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico, since 1993.

Expresses deepest sympathy to the victims' families, and recognizes their courageous struggle to seek justice.

Urges the President and Secretary of State to: (1) incorporate the investigative and preventative efforts of the government of Mexico in the bilateral U.S.-Mexico agenda; and (2) continue to support the families' efforts to seek justice, and to express concern over the continued harassment of these families and the human rights defenders with whom they work.

Supports ongoing efforts to identify unknown victims through independent forensic analysis, including DNA testing, as well as efforts to make these services available to families who have doubts about prior forensic testing.

Condemns the use of torture as a means of investigation into these crimes.

Encourages the Secretary to: (1) continue to include in the annual Country Report on Human Rights all instances of improper investigatory methods, threats against human rights activists, and the use of torture with respect to these cases; (2) urge the government of Mexico and the state of Chihuahua to review the cases in which those accused or convicted of murder have credibly alleged they were tortured or forced by a state agent to confess to the crime; (3) urge the state of Chihuahua to hold accountable those law enforcement officials who failed to adequately investigate the murders; (4) urge the government of Mexico to ensure that the Mexican federal special prosecutor's office gives particular attention to the murders of women in Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua City; and (5) urge the government of Mexico to ensure fair judicial proceedings for the accused individuals and to impose appropriate punishment for the guilty individuals.

Recommends that the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico visit Ciudad Juarez and the city of Chihuahua to meet with the families, women's rights organizations, and Mexican federal and state investigative officials.

Supports the work of the special commissioner to prevent violence against women in Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua City.

Condemns all senseless acts of violence in all parts of the world and, in particular, violence against women.

Expresses the solidarity of the people of the United States with the people of Mexico in the face of these tragic and senseless acts.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov