Women subjected to torture by Mexican police, armed forces: Report

Mexico City: Mexican police and armed forces often use torture and sexual violence against women to obtain confessions during interrogations and arrests, according to a report by Amnesty International released on Tuesday.

The report, based on interviews with 100 women, said 72 women had been sexually abused and 33 raped while they were detained, reinforcing reports by other organizations and the United Nations that torture is a common practise in Mexico.

"The cases of these women paint an absolutely shocking picture that reflects the extent of torture suffered by women in Mexico," Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas Director at Amnesty International, said in a statement.

Neither the National Security Commission nor the Defence Ministry could be reached for comment.

Mexico brought the military onto its streets more than a decade ago to fight drug cartels, leading to a proliferation of allegations of human rights violations, including torture and extrajudicial executions.

The report said torture was commonly used by police.