Physical abuse preceded death of Grand Prairie infant, affidavit says – Dallas News

Report on Infant Fatality and Associated Violations of Sustainable Development Goals

Incident Overview

• Victim: A 1-year-old infant.
• Location: Grand Prairie, Texas.
• Incident: Law enforcement responded to a medical emergency call and found the infant bruised, unconscious, and not breathing. The child was subsequently pronounced dead at a hospital.
• Suspects: Susaneth Pazarez-Nunez, 20 (mother), and Fernando Vega Diaz, 23 (mother’s boyfriend).
• Charges: Both suspects face a charge of injury to a child causing death.

Analysis in the Context of SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

This case represents a severe failure to achieve key targets within SDG 16, which aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable institutions.

• Violation of Target 16.2: The primary violation concerns the goal to “end abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.”
  1. The arrest affidavit details extreme physical abuse, including admissions of hitting, choking, smothering, and biting the infant.
  2. This constitutes a direct and fatal contravention of the fundamental right of a child to be free from violence and torture.
• Violation of Target 16.1: The incident directly undermines the objective to “significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.” The infant’s death is a direct result of targeted violence within the home.
• Institutional Response: The actions of the Grand Prairie Police Department, including the investigation and subsequent arrests, represent the function of “strong institutions” in upholding justice and holding alleged perpetrators accountable.

Implications for SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The death of the infant is a tragic setback for the advancement of SDG 3, particularly its focus on child mortality.

• Failure to Meet Target 3.2: This target calls for an end to preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age. The death resulting from physical abuse was entirely preventable, highlighting a critical lapse in child protection and welfare.
• Indicators of Neglected Health: The affidavit notes that prior to the emergency call, the infant showed signs of distress, including an inflamed torso and irregular breathing, which were not met with adequate medical intervention. This points to a failure to ensure the child’s immediate health and well-being.

Interlinkages with SDG 5: Gender Equality

The circumstances surrounding the infant’s death also illuminate challenges related to SDG 5, which seeks to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

• Violation of Target 5.2: This target aims to “eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres.”
  1. The infant’s mother, Susaneth Pazarez-Nunez, alleged that she was also a victim of physical abuse, including being hit and strangled by her boyfriend.
  2. She stated that fear of the alleged abuser prevented her from reporting the violence to the police, a common barrier for victims of domestic violence that perpetuates cycles of harm and endangers all members of the household.

Status of Suspects and Legal Proceedings

1. Susaneth Pazarez-Nunez:
   • Arrested and charged with injury to a child causing death.
   • Held in the Grand Prairie jail with bond set at $300,000.
   • Subject to an immigration detainer.
2. Fernando Vega Diaz:
   • Arrested and charged with injury to a child causing death.
   • Transferred to the Dallas County jail.
   • Subject to an immigration detainer; bond had not been set.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article highlights issues of child abuse, child mortality, and domestic violence, which directly connect to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) focused on health, well-being, gender equality, and justice.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: This goal aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. The death of the 1-year-old child from physical abuse is a direct failure to protect a child’s health and life.
• SDG 5: Gender Equality: This goal seeks to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. The article mentions that the mother was also a victim of abuse, stating that her boyfriend would hit and strangle her. This points to the issue of violence against women, a key barrier to gender equality.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: This goal is focused on promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, providing access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable institutions. The core of the article—the violent death of a child, the abuse he suffered, and the subsequent police investigation and arrests—is directly related to ending violence against children and ensuring justice.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the specific events described, several SDG targets are relevant:

• Target 3.2: “By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age…” The death of the 1-year-old baby as a result of physical abuse represents a preventable child death, making this target highly relevant.
• Target 5.2: “Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the private and public spheres…” The article states that the mother, Susaneth Pazarez-Nunez, told police that her boyfriend, Vega Diaz, would abuse her when she tried to intervene. The affidavit notes, “Attempts to intervene would result in Vega Diaz hitting and strangling her too,” which is a clear instance of violence against women in the private sphere.
• Target 16.1: “Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.” The entire incident, culminating in the death of a child due to intentional injury, is a stark example of the violence this target aims to reduce. The charge of “injury to a child causing death” directly corresponds to a “related death rate” from violence.
• Target 16.2: “End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.” This is the most directly applicable target. The article details extreme violence against a child, with the affidavit mentioning that the suspect would “hit the baby, smother him and choke him, and at one point bit the child.” This is a clear case of child abuse and violence that this target seeks to eliminate.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article provides specific instances that serve as qualitative data points for several official SDG indicators:

• Indicator 3.2.1 (Under-5 mortality rate): The death of the 1-year-old child is a single data point contributing to the overall under-5 mortality rate. The cause of death—homicide/abuse—is a critical sub-component for understanding and preventing such deaths.
• Indicator 5.2.1 (Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls subjected to physical, sexual or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner): The mother’s statement that her boyfriend was “hitting and strangling her” is a direct account of intimate partner violence, which this indicator is designed to measure.
• Indicator 16.1.1 (Number of victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population): The child’s death, which led to a charge of “injury to a child causing death,” would be classified as an intentional homicide and would be counted under this indicator.
• Indicator 16.2.1 (Proportion of children aged 1-17 years who experienced any physical punishment and/or psychological aggression by caregivers): The detailed description of the abuse—”hit the baby, smother him and choke him, and at one point bit the child”—is a severe example of the physical violence this indicator tracks. The article provides a case study of the most extreme form of violence by a caregiver.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: dallasnews.com