Mexican mother confronts loss, corruption and impunity in a ‘femicide nation’

A woman with the words "Not one less" written on her chest in Spanish joins an International Women's Day march in Mexico City on March 8, 2021. © Rebecca Blackwell, AP

High rates of femicide, combined with a poor track record of bringing perpetrators to justice – particularly the wealthy and powerful – have made Mexico the most dangerous country for women in Latin America, according to the UN. But one grieving mother is determined to seek justice for her murdered daughter, despite the odds.   

At 8:35pm on June 18, a Saturday, Patricia Garcia received a call informing her that her daughter, Frida Santamaria Garcia, was injured and in hospital.