UN condemns Mexico mayor’s murder

In this Friday, Jan. 1, 2016 photo, Gisela Mota waves during her swearing in ceremony as mayor of Temixco, Morelos State, Mexico. The Morelos state Public Security Commission says attackers invaded Mota’s house on Saturday morning and killed her. AP Photo

MEXICO CITY, Mexico—The United Nations agencies for human and women’s rights condemned on Tuesday the murder of a Mexican mayor who was killed last weekend just one day after she took office.

READ: Mexico mayor slain a day after taking office

The agencies said in a joint statement that the killing of Gisela Mota, the 33-year-old mayor of the central city of Temixco, was a “grave crime” that also “disrupts the political rights of women” guaranteed by Mexico’s constitution.

They urged the authorities to find the perpetrators, investigate the crime by taking the victim’s gender into account and make sure politicians, notably women, are protected.

While Mexico has made great strides toward equality between men and women in Congress, the participation of women in mayoral offices “is still insufficient,” the statement said.

The communique was signed by the Mexico branches of UN Women, which is dedicated to gender equality, and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Morelos state authorities suspect that the drug gang known as Los Rojos murdered Mota on Saturday because she backed a plan to place state and municipal police into a unified command structure.

Two suspects were killed and three others have been detained.