Mexico to Establish 12 Family Justice Centers Modeled After San Diego

Casey Gwinn and Gael Strack Attend Opening of First Domestic Violence Center in Chihuahua

San Diego CA – June 9, 2011 – Mexico’s President Felipe Calderon has committed $20 million pesos (about $1.7 million U.S. dollars) to establish 12 specialized domestic violence centers across the country modeled after the San Diego Family Justice Center.  This week, government officials from across Mexico came to celebrate the opening of the first Center in Chihuahua.  Support has come from civil society organizations, domestic violence shelters, feminist leaders, and human rights advocates.

“In Mexico, 90% of all women murdered are killed by intimate partners.  The need for the services offered at a Family Justice Center is clear, and we are proud that the San Diego model for helping victims of domestic violence is being followed all across Mexico and throughout the world,” stated Casey Gwinn, Co-Founder and President of the National Family Justice Center Alliance.

The Mexican Family Justice Center Initiative is being supported by USAID, the U.S. Department of State, and by federal, state and local government officials in Mexico.  The Centers will be called Centros de Justicia para las Mujeres – Justice Centers for Women – and the National Family Justice Center Alliance is providing planning, training, and technical assistance services to local staff at facilities in Mexico.

The Mexican criminal justice system is evolving from an inquisitorial system to an adversarial system similar to the U.S. legal system to improve accountability for criminals and better protect the innocent.  The Family Justice Center model has become a significant approach for providing protection and services for victims of domestic violence.  Women are not required to appear in court to describe the abuse they have suffered, and in some cases, judges will even meet in person with a victim to learn the facts of a case.

“Government leaders, community leaders and women’s rights advocates in Mexico are committing to figure out how to live together, work together, and advocate for change.  It has brought hope.  You can see the hope on their faces.  You can hear the hope in their voices.  It is truly inspiring to see their hope mixed with such deep passion and love for their country and their people,” stated Gael Strack, Co-Founder and President of the National Family Justice Center Alliance..

Family Justice Centers

The San Diego Family Justice Center was established in 2002 as a one-stop shop to provide services to victims of domestic violence. Doctors, lawyers, police officers, counselors and other professionals are located in a single facility to provide a broad range of services in one location.  In 2006, the National Family Justice Center Alliance was formed to provide technical assistance, training and counseling to carry the San Diego model across the nation and throughout the world. Today there are currently 76 operational centers in the United States and more than ten international Centers in other countries including Jordan, Sweden, The Netherlands, England, Canada and now Mexico.  In addition, more than 100 new Centers are currently developing in the United States, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Central America.