SUBSTITUTE MOTHER
In November 2017, the body of my cousin Fernanda was found on the street. She was a victim of feminicide. This documentary project arises from the most intimate, within my own family and tells the story of my cousin Siomara who became a Substitute Mother of her (at that time) 3-year-old niece, since her mother was murdered. This project shows how feminicide does not end with murder, but has psychosocial impacts that cause trauma in orphan children, in mothers, sisters, grandmothers and aunts who become Substitute Mothers because of violence in Mexico.
Based on data from the National Femicide Observatory in Mexico, around 30,889 girls, boys and adolescents have been orphaned due to femicide between January 2017 (the year my cousin was murdered) and March 2021. According to data from UN Women, in Mexico ten women were murdered daily victims of femicide during 2020. Currently, Mexico ranks second in Latin America for orphaned children. Given this and based on data from the Orphans for Femicide organization, 98% of the caregivers who are left in charge of these childhoods are women and there is no recognition or support by the law for them.
The story of Siomara and her niece is one of thousands of cases in the country who, as a result of the feminicide of a close relative, take care of the victim's orphaned children indefinitely and amid loopholes. These women live in a constant environment of impunity and corruption perpetrated by the State. SUBSTITUTE MOTHER addresses discrimination against women in disadvantaged situations and the rights of children in a dual and combined way.
In November 2017, the body of my cousin Fernanda was found on the street. She was a victim of feminicide. This documentary project arises from the most intimate, within my own family and tells the story of my cousin Siomara who became a Substitute Mother of her (at that time) 3-year-old niece, since her mother was murdered. This project shows how feminicide does not end with murder, but has psychosocial impacts that cause trauma in orphan children, in mothers, sisters, grandmothers and aunts who become Substitute Mothers because of violence in Mexico.
Based on data from the National Femicide Observatory in Mexico, around 30,889 girls, boys and adolescents have been orphaned due to femicide between January 2017 (the year my cousin was murdered) and March 2021. According to data from UN Women, in Mexico ten women were murdered daily victims of femicide during 2020. Currently, Mexico ranks second in Latin America for orphaned children. Given this and based on data from the Orphans for Femicide organization, 98% of the caregivers who are left in charge of these childhoods are women and there is no recognition or support by the law for them.
The story of Siomara and her niece is one of thousands of cases in the country who, as a result of the feminicide of a close relative, take care of the victim's orphaned children indefinitely and amid loopholes. These women live in a constant environment of impunity and corruption perpetrated by the State. SUBSTITUTE MOTHER addresses discrimination against women in disadvantaged situations and the rights of children in a dual and combined way.
Public Story
Substitute Mother
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