Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico – March 4, 2026 – The Technological University of Ciudad Juárez (UTCJ) has launched a new series of dialogues aimed at addressing significant social and security challenges in the city’s rapidly growing southeastern region. This area, home to approximately 430,000 residents, faces high rates of domestic violence, sexual offenses, and intentional homicides, compounded by a police infrastructure deficit and high school dropout rates.
UTCJ Leads Collaborative Effort to Find Solutions
The initiative, titled “POV – Point of View: Dialogues for a Competitive Border,” is a collaborative effort with the Trust for Competitiveness and Citizen Security (FICOSEC) and the Chihuahua Business Foundation (FECHAC). Its primary goal is to create a platform for dialogue, analysis, and the collective development of proposals to address the urban, social, and security issues prevalent in this part of Ciudad Juárez.
Oscar Ibáñez Hernández, Rector of UTCJ, explained that this is the institution’s second POV initiative. The first focused on the region’s economic and industrial dynamics. “For us, it is fundamental to understand what is happening in Juárez, because we are deeply linked to the productive sector and the community. Our university community is not only students and teachers, but also their families, most of whom live around the university. We want to respond better to the social and urban challenges they face,” he stated.
Key Challenges Identified in the Southeast
During the inaugural “zero session” titled “Framework and Territorial Vision of Southeast Ciudad Juárez,” Dr. Roberto Mora Palacios, Director of the Municipal Institute for Research and Planning (IMIP), presented a historical overview of Ciudad Juárez’s growth. He highlighted how the maquiladora program spurred rapid urban expansion into the southeast, creating pressure on public services and social infrastructure.
Mora Palacios reiterated that the main challenges include high rates of domestic violence, sexual offenses, and intentional homicides. Furthermore, the area suffers from a lack of police infrastructure and limited access to justice institutions. He also pointed out a progressive decrease in educational facilities at higher levels, a factor directly contributing to school dropout rates, especially in densely populated areas.
Despite recent investments in infrastructure, paving, and schools in the sector, challenges persist due to the accelerated population growth, as noted by the IMIP director.
Commitment from Key Stakeholders
Representatives from FECHAC and FICOSEC reaffirmed their commitment to working in coordination with academia, the business sector, civil organizations, and public institutions. This effort aligns with the “Impacta 2030 Agenda,” which focuses on prevention, education, health, employment, and the reconstruction of the social fabric in areas with the greatest disparities.
Methodology and Future Outlook
The methodology for these dialogues includes the participation of national and international experts, along with discussion tables facilitated by UTCJ academics. The objective is to build evidence-based proposals informed by best practices.
With this initial session, UTCJ formally begins a series of meetings designed to translate into concrete proposals for strengthening the comprehensive development of the southeast. This initiative solidifies the university’s role as an active participant in the planning and transformation of its surrounding environment.
The dialogues aim to generate mechanisms for participation, allowing organized society to influence the political direction of the city, ultimately fostering social and community development in this vital border region.
