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Organizacin Civil - ONG GRUPO DE MUJERES DE LA ARGENTINA FORO DE VIH MUJERES Y FAMILIA

OBSERVA ORIO EN ENCIERRO !"""#$"%&

HE 'MULAS( RE)OR AND CA)I ALISM IN LA IN AMERICA

Capitalism and commercialization form a society of victims and addicts(*)


*GMA 2011 report (team of drug users, ex female convicts, international assistants GMA)

Capitalism creates a society in

!ic! people are addicted to earning money, and in

!ic!

unemployment and poverty are incredi"ly common# $o a great extent, people%s actions are determined "y social influences, and due to a society mule(# )rgani*ed crime and capitalism are intrinsically and un+uestiona"ly connected# All criminal organi*ations !ave and use a capitalist mentality and rationality in order to prosper# ,o ever, t!e reason for organi*ed crime prospering in capitalism is "ecause it serves t!e capitalist mar&et# -it!in capitalism t!ere exists a demand for t!e services of criminal organi*ations# $!erefore, it! t!e glo"ali*ation of capitalism, came t!e internationali*ation of organi*ed crime, more specifically, of drug traffic&ing# .n /atin American countries, (0olivia, 1eru, Colum"ia, 1araguay, 2ruguay, Argentina, etc) poverty is pauperism# 4or example in 0ogota, Colum"ia5 t!e principal industry in 0ogota is oil follo ed "y ' drugs cocaine and other illicit substances, in which many people become trapped (/aurier)# 4ollo ing drugs and oil, ot!er important industries are coffee and flo ers# -!ilst t!ere is a large rural economy, people end up living in s!anty to ns or small !ouses, it!out electricity or "asic services, 'trying "it "y "it to enter into an economy !ic! is lac&ing in space for t!em, fluctuates "et een 16 and 20 percent(# $!ere are many &ey players in t!e traffic&ing of drugs maximi*e t!eir earnings# A 'M#$A(, t!at is, a person !o s!are a common motive to !o transports illegal drugs "y ingesting !ere unemployment ide3spread and t!e land provides suita"le conditions for t!e production of illicit su"stances# $!erefore, drug traffic&ing is almost a natural response to t!e scourge of social !ere people are treated li&e disposa"le 'THINGS or O !"CTS(, one of t!e most overloo&ed victims in our glo"al economy is t!e 'drug

t!em and !iding t!em on t!eir person, is a source of very c!eap la"or for a drug traffic&er# $!e ma7ority of 'M#$AS( are e%tremely poor and desperate &omen &'o see t'e traffic(in) of narcotics as a means of s*rvival+ ,o ever, to or& as 'M#$AS( !as 'a value( (economic) in an 1
I*G*J %%%+,% $ CENOC- F. "%"/0 $ CIOBA 1", - OEA- SRE$DAI$012$%, Sede Central: Piedras 1174 PB - E - Cap Fed - C.P. 1070 - Bs As - Argentina TEL: 54 -11- 4362-6881/ e.mial: denunciasddhh@gmail.com web: www.grupode u!eres.org.ar $ 333*4r56in7ra45879:r58*c59*ar

environment !ere social destitution impels young people to "ecome involved in drug traffic&ing all over t!e orld# $!is feeling is seen reflected in t!e film, Mara llena eres de gracia t!at narrates t!ing to note in reference to t!is film is t!at, even girl !o it! muc! precision t!e story of a young girl !o "ecomes a 'mula( in 0ogota, Colom"ia# $!e important !en it is a"out t!e specific situation of a young or&s as a 'M#$A(, it also s!o s t!e audience t!at "eing a ' M#$A( is similar to any

ot'er form of t'e e%ploitation of c'eap la,or+ $!e film s!o s t!e t!oug!t process of Mar8a# 9ven !en, to !er, seven or eig!t million pesos seemed to resolve !er pro"lems, s!e "elieved t!at suc! a 7o" re+uired "etter compensation# ,o ever, according to -n)el ./ez, t!e ma7ority of drug couriers in 1eru dont !ave anyt!ing nada +ue pensar, !e says: 'the rate that the MULAS are paid for swallowing packets of cocaine and bringing them to Brazil or Argentina is approximately one thousand dollars. However if they are sent to the !nited "tates #urope or Asia where drugs have a higher value the payment can be between two thousand and three thousand dollars. As in many cases of international capitalist exploitation, t!ose salary of a 'M#$A( to !atever t!ey is!, !o control t!e means of

production also control t!e salaries, and in terms of drug traffic&ing, t!e drug "arons can c!ange t!e it!out reason# $!e ' M#$AS( are at t!e "ottom of 'the drug food chain(5 t!ey are under t!e complete control of all ot!er mem"ers of t!e organi*ation# As in many cases of e%ploitation, "lac&amail, deception, and a"andonment are very common mec!anisms5 life and revealed to t!e police# 2nfortunately, it%s a common occurrence t!at an ingested pac&et of !eroin or cocaine explodes5 t!ere !ave "een cases t!at our organi*ation !as learned of, !ere children who had !en t!ey land in t!e ingested packets of cocaine had to be hospitali ed immediately after reaching their destination!" 4urt!ermore, t!e people in c!arge of receiving t!e drugs and t!e 'M#$AS( do not feel in any ay responsi"le for t!eir 2nited ;tates, 9urope, Canada or any ot!er location, li&e t!e Canaries and ot!er 9uropean countries, ell"eing# $!ese situations do not prevent t!ere "eing a large num"er of 'M#$AS( in our region /atin America "ecause, 'po#erty creates a breeding ground for recruitment( (1<e*)# According to t!e 2nited =ations )ffice on >rugs and Crime, ' one in ten passen)ers &'o &ere flyin) from !amaica to "n)land &as a 0M#$A12# ;ince 1??6, !ere in Argentina t!e num"er I*G*J %%%+,% $ CENOC- F. "%"/0 $ CIOBA 1", - OEA- SRE$DAI$012$%, 2 Sede Central: Piedras 1174 PB - E - Cap Fed - C.P. 1070 - Bs As - Argentina
TEL: 54 -11- 4362-6881/ e.mial: denunciasddhh@gmail.com web: www.grupode u!eres.org.ar $ 333*4r56in7ra45879:r58*c59*ar

ell3"eing are never ta&en into consideration5 t!e only important t!ing is t!at

all t!e drugs successfully arrive in t!e 2nited ;tates or any ot!er destination and t!at not!ing is

of

omen

!o are 'M#$AS2 !as gro n3 almost 456 of t'ose detained o&e it to dr*)

traffic(in)7 many of t'em are poor3 from Ar)entina or ,orderin) co*ntries (11= report) and since t'e year 8555 it 'as ,een noted t'at many African and "*ropean &omen are also detained in o*r co*ntry (GMA), as a result of t!is process# As McClelland points out: 9all aro*nd t'e &orld t'e most rapidly increasin) sector of t'e prison pop*lation is t'at of poor &omen+ :or e%ample3 t'e t&o &omen;s prisons in Ci*dad !*/rez < M=%ico+ T'ere3 it;s estimated t'at ei)'ty percent of t'e inmates are t'ere d*e to dr*)< related crimes+ In Me%ico3 t'e n*m,er of &omen in prison for federal crimes 'as risen ,y fo*r '*ndred percent since 855>+ T'eir crimes are directly lin(ed to t'e c*ts in social pro)rams3 ins*fficient salaries and t'e lac( of ed*cation2+ As Cave notes: 'in a devastated economy, omen !o are loo&ing to survive, many of t!em ido ed due to violence, are increasingly dra n to criminal activity li&e drug traffic&ing@ somet!ing many see as t!e only availa"le option to support t!eir families( (Cave)# T'e )ro&in) prison pop*lation of impoveris'ed &omen &'o ,ecome 9M#$AS2 s'o*ld dra& attention to an important iss*e t'at can no lon)er ,e i)nored+ $!is alarming num"er of people !o are forced to ris& t!eir lives ena"les drug traffic&ing

organi*ations to "e economically efficient# $!e ma7ority of illegal narcotics are exported "y /atin American countries5 so Canada, t!e 2nited ;tates and 9urope re+uire s!ipments on a large scale, !ic! consists of very complex logistics, meaning t!at suc! deliveries can only occur a couple of times a year# $!erefore, t!e employment of 'M#$AS,( offers t!e mar&et a constant supply of drugs and profit# ;o, t!e a"undant num"er of 'M#$AS( allo s criminal organi*ations to use a tactic called 's'ot)*nnin)(# A ay of increasing t!e possi"ilites of a safe passage for t!e ma7ority of t!e M#$AS, is to put t!em on t!e same flig!t# $!en, some drug traffic&ers lea& 't!e names of one or t o 'mulas( to t!e police( to distract t!eir attention from t!e rest# $!e t!eory is t!at if a ' M#$A( is caug!t, !e or s!e can act as a diversion !ilst t!e ot!ers pass it!out "eing detected, !ic! results in "eing economically sufficient# .n effect, 'using AM#$ASB is a c!eap met!od for drug traffic&ers "ecause losing !alf a ton or a ton of cocaine in a large s!ipment is a lot &ilos orse ton losing one to six oman, !en a AM#$AB is caug!t(# .n any case, 'for a poor or unemployed /atin American

t!e payment for s allo ing t!e capsules and travelling four or five !ours to 0uenos Aires or ;ao 1aolo or !erever it is, is still extremely attractive, in spite of t!e ris&s(# 0ut, t!ere is somet!ing "adC rong it! t!e ' &ar a)ainst dr*)s( !en 't!e c!ain of responsi"ilities in drug traffic&ing is al ays cut "y t!e ea&est lin&@generally, it is t!e mules t!at D

I*G*J %%%+,% $ CENOC- F. "%"/0 $ CIOBA 1", - OEA- SRE$DAI$012$%, Sede Central: Piedras 1174 PB - E - Cap Fed - C.P. 1070 - Bs As - Argentina TEL: 54 -11- 4362-6881/ e.mial: denunciasddhh@gmail.com web: www.grupode u!eres.org.ar $ 333*4r56in7ra45879:r58*c59*ar

al ays fall and not t!e "ig producers(# =o , t!e criminali*ation of t!ese practices doesnBt fall upon t!e capitalists earnings# $!e omen !o are trapped donBt receive any assistance from t!e people t!at recruited t!em and little or no assistance from t!eir respective em"assies, in some cases civil associations omen at t!eir time of trial# -!ilst a AmulaB !ic! engage in t!e issue of prisons, oug!t to "e intermediaries so t!at t!ey can attend to t!ese poor ill !ave to go to a pu"lic defender due to not !aving sufficient funds to go to a private one, t!e !ig!est lin&s in t!e !ierarc!ical c!ain !ave everyt!ing at t!eir service, contracted "y t!e criminal organi*ation itself, t!at manages to usufruct t!e '"enefits( of t!e system# $oday t!e !ammer of 7ustice only falls on imposing !ars! penalties on t!e ' M#$AS(, in Argentina t!e penalties range "et een five and ten years5 o"viously t!eir !uman necessities are not ta&en into account, nor t!e lac& of resources of t!e same system, !ic! orsens detention conditions for t!e 9M#$AS2, as a simple example, it suffices to say t!at many of t!em are dr*) *sers+ $!e legal systems of t!ose countries "elieve t!at t!e 'severe punis!ment of t!e ' M#$AS2 is necessary in order to ac!ieve deterrence and to protect society(# $!is only s!o s !o 7udicial system and t!e ;tate do andCor donBt t!at use t!ese omen for t!eir illicit enric!ment# ,o ever, t!e 'M#$AS( are social victims of our capitalist society# $!ey are t!e 9most v*lnera,le and dispensa,le tar)ets in t'e dr*)s &ar2 # After seeing and &eeping trac& of drug cases, it "ecomes clear t!at t!e 'true "eneficiaries of t!e massive and lucrative international traffic&ing of drugs are not t!ose !o illegally transport t!e contra"and across t!e "orders, "ut rat!er t!ird parties !o pay t!e system for impunity(# $!at said, criminal la and t!e penali*ation of mere 'la"ourers( in t!ese capitalist drugs "usinesses is not t!e ans er5 it is an 'illusion t!at t!e criminal la s are t!e magic solution to t!is situation( (>r# Eaffaroni)# According to t!is, criminal laws ne#er put a stop to such e#ents, as they cannot be a#oided with papers, but they enable a puniti#e power which is e$ercised for structural reasons% selecti#ely on dissidents and those most #ulnerable!" GMA 'as o,served t'at to ,e a 9M#$A2 means also to ,e part of a N"T?O@A of ."O.$" T@A::ICAING3 "ecause t!ere is not only t!e issue of drugs "eing transported into ot!er countries, "ut also t!at of omen, !o must endure prostitution and relentless !arassment, so t!at mafias can reap t!eir "enefits# In f*ll concl*sion3 t'e 9M#$AS2 are victims of t'e *ser or cons*mer of t'e capitalist dr*) traffic(in) mar(et+
I*G*J %%%+,% $ CENOC- F. "%"/0 $ CIOBA 1", - OEA- SRE$DAI$012$%, Sede Central: Piedras 1174 PB - E - Cap Fed - C.P. 1070 - Bs As - Argentina TEL: 54 -11- 4362-6881/ e.mial: denunciasddhh@gmail.com web: www.grupode u!eres.org.ar $ 333*4r56in7ra45879:r58*c59*ar

!o ma&e t!e illegal drugs, "ut on t!e 'la"orers( t!e small players and victims

it!in t!e industry# $!e 'M#$AS( are used as scapegoats in order to o"tain enormous economic

little t!e

orry, a"out putting an end to criminal organi*ations,

.t is for t!is reason t!at t!roug! t!e institutional evolution of GMA3 professionals in t!e field 3

e !ave managed to raise

a areness and !ig!lig!t many realities 3 idely alien to t!e magisterial statements of t!e experts and it! t!e o"7ective of c!anging t!e current punitive system, on "e!alf of omen and families t!at conform so t!at, 'T'e M#$A is not penalized as a B@#G T@A::ICA"@3 ,*t s'e is reco)nised and considered as anot'er lin(3 ,*t TH" MOST C#$N"@A $"3 of t'e system t'at is *sed for t'ese ille)al corporations distri"ution net or&s, so t!at t!ey may enter t!e capitalist consumer society# Many of t!ese voices t!at today ma&e up t!e GMA, are trying t!eir utmost to c!ange t!is reality using t!eir professional &no ledge, and !arm reduction in order to raise a areness amongst groups of young people and t!e system itself, so t!at t!eir rig!ts may not "e violated# !ic! recruit t!e 'M#$AS( in t!e poorest social circumstances, forcing t!em to enter into t!ese traffic&ing and

i,lio)rap'y Cave, >amien# GMexico%s >rug -ar, 4emini*ed#G $he %ew &ork $imes 1D Aug# 2011# /aurier, Hoanne# G2n!oly Circumstances#G F ;ept# 200F# McClleland, ;usan# G>rug Mules: $ransporting =arcotics ;eems t!e Ans er to $!eir 1ro"lems#G 2I Huly 200D# 1<e*, Jngel# G1overty 1rovides Gro ing =um"er of %drug Mules%G 20 4e"# 200I# >r# Eaffaroni, 9ugenio KaLl# ' (inistro de la )orte "uprema de la %acion ' *lobalizaci+n & )rimen ,rganizado: 1316#

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LIST OF BOARD MEMBERS / STAFF / COMMITTEES: Provide a list of people working in your organization, specifying, where possible, what role they play within and external to the organization. STAFF: BOARD: 1. MARTHA MIRAVETE CICERO - PRESIDENT 2. Ing. HUGO NORBERTO CORRAL SECRETARY 3. LIC ANALA V. RODRIGUEZ nursing Treasurer 4. MARIA EUGENIA CATTANEO Punto Focal Mendoza . Andrea Soledad Oliver A!"#$%& '. Jeankarla Falon Plaza Press adviser (. Mirian Mazzoni Adviser Punto Focal Avellaneda ). Carolina Cubilla Punto Focal Paraguay *. Nilda Martin Punto Focal NY SA 1+. !rika S"it# regarding nort#ern Prov de $uenos Aires 11. %ic& Stella Mary Ortega Psyc#ologist 12. %ic& Mariana 'i"ant Psyc#ologist 13. %orena Acu(a Social )orker 14. CO *TN!Y M+C,!%! -O*'ON SA translations& 1 . 'ra& Patrica Cozzo .illa/a(es 0 la)yer 1'& -abriela -aleano AC+M+S& 1(. Sebastian '1az y Oscar 'u2ue regarding %anus region 1". Samirah Armengol investigadora social Panama contacto GMA http://www.grupodemujeres.org.ar/ u!e"es.php#pag!"a$ u!e"es%sta&&.htm' STAFF: LEGAL A ! "A#"$ A%&!#! "'A"(' $ "'A# LA"('

Ta('or She)e( * +SA, Stas! Bara"o&& * +SA, -ame'a Thomas * +SA, .e""( -oret/ * +SA, E'e"a 0or" * +SA,

COMMITTEE O, DIRECTORS3 consisting o/ 44 "e"bers COMMITTEE O, HEALTH- HUMAN RIGHTS- LA.YERS- .OR/- ETC. GROUP O, YOUNG VOLUNTEERS - STUDENTS GROUP O, VOLUNTEERS AND ,AMILY MEMBERS- #00#g&1n2$ 1n! LGBT- 55 6eo6le GROUP O, E3 PRISONERS 78 6eo6le Ag&%%0%n2$ 4#25 #n2%&n12#6n17 E8951ng% 6::6&2;n#2#%$< ) C6n!%&$ ) I,SA - In$2#2;2% =6& S2;!> A?&61! - 522:<@@444.#=$1-?;27%&.6&g 1R+-O DE M+.ERES DE LA AR1E2TI2A* 3I4 Forum 5ome" a"d Fam!'(, referenced on the 4%?< )))&gru6ode"u9eres&org&ar- )))&6royintra6ost"uros&co"&ar- leading institution for the fight for +u,an 'ights of people in pr!so"/e6%pr!so"ers, as 7est 8orrespo"ds to the 'aw, a"d state the &o''ow!"gince for,ing, the institution confor,ed with the principal ob.ective of su,,oning all Groups, People and !nstitutions that work and are engaged in the life of people deprived of freedo,, people fro, the LG/" co,,unity in prison, People who l !)e w!th 3I4, 8hro"!8 pat!e"ts, drug users a"d &am!'!es, !" order to pro)!de !" depth so'ut!o"s &or what we 8o"s!der to 7e the most )u'"era7'e so8!a' se8tor. 0a,ilies and people engaged in the social situation of life behind bars 1psychologists, social workers, lawyers, damage redu8t!o" programmes9 ha)e g!)e" a respo"se, a"d support to th!s proposa' o& 7e!"g a7'e to show what rea''( happe"s !" pr!so".

I*G*J %%%+,% $ CENOC- F. "%"/0 $ CIOBA 1", - OEA- SRE$DAI$012$%, Sede Central: Piedras 1174 PB - E - Cap Fed - C.P. 1070 - Bs As - Argentina TEL: 54 -11- 4362-6881/ e.mial: denunciasddhh@gmail.com web: www.grupode u!eres.org.ar $ 333*4r56in7ra45879:r58*c59*ar

2e are concerned about the violence that today exists in society and the syste,, which ,akes us give warnings to vulnerable groups like young people and fa,ilies ,arginalized by the sa,e syste,. A'so the e")!ro"me"t !" wh!8h we '!)e !s our 8o"8er", a"d we are, there&ore, prepared a"d ma:e 8ha"ges !" &am!'!a' a"d so8!a' 7eha)!our. "he discri,ination that exists today with refugees, expatriates and i ''ega' !mm!gra"ts, some o& whom e"d up !mpr!so"ed, ma:es us see that !" the!r s!tuat!o" there are "o guara"tees. afety, '!:e the redu8t!o" o& 8r!me, !s a 8o"8er"!"g top!8, to 7e a7'e to !"8'ude a"d he'p peop'e who '!e w!th!" )u'"era7'e groups. There&ore our too's are, a7o)e a'', edu8at!o" a"d wor:, the 7est too's &or so8!a' !"tegrat!o".

Orga"!/at!o"s a"d I"ter"at!o"a' +"!)ers!t!es http-$$www.grupode,u.eres.org.ar$3uienes.php4pagina53uienes*staff.ht,l 6 7 Ar7!trar( Dete"t!o" Report % ;<<= 8 * I2FORME SOMBRA for +21ASS ;<<> 7 +!9 7 A!% * :# 7 ICASO link ; * 21O mem7er o& the +2, activities related to cri,e prevention, cri,inal .ustice and drug control. <o,unicado organizations interested in guarenteeing an effective global response to the +!9 and A!% epide,ic = * De 3aagse 3oges8hoo' >* Co")e"ed 7( the 5!''!ams I"st!tute at +CLA S8hoo' o& Law, !nternational Lesbian and Gay Law Association 1!LGLaw?, and the <ity of 2est +ollywood 7 Los @ngeles. A * -ro(e8to Astraea * !t was appro)ed 7( the Comm!ss!o" o& R!ghts a"d 1uara"tees o& the Se"ate with the 2? =@A</<>;;/B</;<<>. enator #A!%E#(00 presented the :Proyecto de declaraciBn de interCsD t#at which with the %ate of sanction- 8A$66$8EEF A#<"!(#- was APP'(9E%. G 7 <ure !nternacional 7 Link of hearing before the :# 7 Gineva F * OBSER4ATORIO LATI2OAMERICA2O AIDS FOR AID % -+2TO FOCAL e" AR1E2TI2A that which rewards us for the work we are doing, but also co,,its us to better care, ,onitring, treat,ent, ,edication, proposed by -ROCECTO -AIS, on the topic of AIDS. H 7 "o participate in the !A<+' hearings, like for exa,ple +earing nI 6;=, referenced on the page. 6E * F!"a' Report o& So8!a' Mo"!tor!"g ;<<> * Auto"omous C!t( o& Bue"os A!res <o,pleted by- Grupo de &u.eres de la Argentina $ 0oru, of +!9 2o,an and 0a,ilyJ 6E 7 Libro (LAP 7 guests of the (9P 7 9enezuelan Prison (bservatory 66 7 :niversal Periodic 'eview 68 7 4IRT+AL -LATFORM OF T3E S+MMIT OF T3E AMERICAS* OEA 6; 7 COMM+2ICATIO2 -RO.ECT A--EALI21 TO GRUPO DE MUAERES DE LA ARGENTINA AND OTHERS 6= 7 Ad)o8ate o& the +2 * CO2O S+R 7etwee" ;B 8o''eagues &rom Lat!" Amer!8a * ;<B< :# +u,an 'ights* outh A,erica 6> * )!deo 5OLA ;<B< * D 8o''eagues &rom Lat!" Amer!8a, we ha)e 7ee" 8hose" &or these )!deos.

I*G*J %%%+,% $ CENOC- F. "%"/0 $ CIOBA 1", - OEA- SRE$DAI$012$%, Sede Central: Piedras 1174 PB - E - Cap Fed - C.P. 1070 - Bs As - Argentina TEL: 54 -11- 4362-6881/ e.mial: denunciasddhh@gmail.com web: www.grupode u!eres.org.ar $ 333*4r56in7ra45879:r58*c59*ar

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