What is Vicarious Violence?
Vicarious violence, a complex and destructive manifestation of gender-based violence in Mexico, does not directly target an individual but inflicts harm through the manipulation or abuse of their children to cause emotional distress, control, and subjugation. Although not yet legally defined in national laws, its recognition is progressing, with judicial precedents being established in states like Coahuila.
Definition of Vicarious Violence
According to a March 2023 reform approved by the Chamber of Deputies to amend Mexico’s Ley General de Acceso de las Mujeres a una Vida Libre de Violencia, vicarious violence refers to any action or omission committed against a woman by someone with whom she has had or currently has a romantic relationship, intending to cause harm through the use of her children.
In numerous cases, the perpetrator attempts to force contact with the mother or subjugate her by deliberately neglecting parental responsibilities.
Emotional and Social Impact
The repercussions of vicarious violence are profound. Women may experience anxiety, depression, social isolation, and psychological trauma. For children, exposure to this form of violence negatively impacts their emotional development, sense of security, and interpersonal relationships.
Human rights organizations caution that this phenomenon often goes unnoticed, mistaken for family conflicts or legal disputes, when it is, in fact, a severe form of gender-based violence.
Number of Victims in Mexico
Currently, there is no official record quantifying the number of victims of vicarious violence in Mexico. However, organizations like Cimacnoticias have documented that the Comisión Nacional de los Derechos Humanos (CNDH) provided support to at least 150 women victims in 2022.
Meanwhile, the Secretaría de Salud reports cases of violence against children and adolescents treated in hospitals, though without specifically classifying them as vicarious violence.
Coahuila: Pioneering Judicialization of Vicarious Violence
In January 2024, a control judge in Saltillo, Coahuila, linked a woman to prosecution for family violence in its vicarious form, marking the first case of this nature in the state.
The Fiscalía argued that the children were used as a means to inflict emotional harm on the father through repeated denial of contact and behaviors aimed at severing the parent-child bond. The case is based on Article 251 of Coahuila’s Penal Code, which acknowledges vicarious violence as a form of family violence.
Reactions and Concerns
While feminist collectives and experts celebrate the advancement in recognizing this violence, some organizations warn about the risk of judicializing complex family conflicts without comprehensive analysis.
Nationally, vicarious violence remains unclassified in laws; however, the 2023 decree may soon be published, paving the way for its formal recognition and enhanced protection for women, girls, and boys.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is vicarious violence? It refers to any action or omission committed against a woman by someone with whom she has had or currently has a romantic relationship, intending to cause harm through the use of her children.
- What are the impacts of vicarious violence? Victims may experience emotional distress, depression, social isolation, and psychological trauma. Children’s emotional development, sense of security, and interpersonal relationships can be negatively affected.
- How many victims are there in Mexico? There is no official record, but organizations like Cimacnoticias have documented support for at least 150 women victims in 2022 by the CNDH.
- Which states are addressing vicarious violence? Coahuila has been pioneering the judicialization of vicarious violence, with the first case linked to prosecution in January 2024.
- What are the concerns surrounding vicarious violence? Some organizations warn about judicializing complex family conflicts without comprehensive analysis, despite the progress in recognizing this form of gender-based violence.
