Hello. My name is Maria Eva Delgado Bahena. I'm from Mexico. I was accepted as a refugee in Canada because I was beaten by an abusive partner who not only holds a government position but who was also extremely corrupt. I have gone to the authorities many times, and even to the state governor for help, but there was no protection for me.
We are totally thankful for the time to prepare my case properly. If I had to talk to a public servant, after eight days, to tell my story, it would have been impossible. I would have only explained part of my story. I would not have been able to talk about the intimate details, nor his involvement as a corrupt government official. I was even terrified to speak about other events at my hearing, and this was after getting a lot of support from psychologists, lawyers, and social workers. It was so traumatic, I could not imagine having to do that after eight days.
At my hearing, when they started to question me about why we had arrived in Canada, I didn't know how to tell about something so painful for me to someone who would judge me. I was ashamed of remembering too many things.
It took me many months to get all the documents and evidence I needed to prove my case. There were a lot of documents that I wanted to present, but the translation of them would have taken too much time that I did not have.
I know my country has been perceived as a safe place. My children and I are proof that the system in Mexico has deteriorated, because my constant complaints in order to get justice, including speaking to the government secretary and even the governor himself, were rejected because my aggressor is a person of public political profile.
Mexico is not a safe place. The authorities cannot provide its citizens protection. That is why I was accepted here.
Thank you.