In neighboring Sonora, Mexico, cases of gender-based violence rose more than 47% during the the first three months of coronavirus quarantine — March through May — compared to the same period last year, from 904 during the three month period in 2019, to 1,333 in 2020.

That’s according to an analysis of federal crime data by the Sonoran Observatory for Security, which focused on gender-based crimes including femicide, domestic violence, rape, sexual harassment and sexual assault, among others.

“Yeah that’s a pretty huge number," analyst Krimilda Bernal, said of the increase in cases.“These numbers will continue rising if the local governments aren’t giving sufficient funds or the correct attention to victims, since not everyone receives the proper follow-up."

Of Mexico’s 32 states, Sonora had the fourth-highest number of domestic violence 911 calls from January to May of this year — more than 24,000 — making it top state for emergency domestic violence calls per 100,000 residents, according to federal data.

But Bernal said only a small portion of those calls have resulted in an investigation. She added that because so many victims are quarantined with their abusers, combined with pandemic-related stresses on already limited resources and shelter-spaces for women and children facing violence, likely means reported numbers are a significant under count.

Violence against women was a significant issue in Sonora, and across Mexico, before the pandemic. And in February, nationwide protests sought to bring attention to the issue.

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