Within the framework of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the Government of Mexico, led by President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, and the 32 state governments signed the National Commitment for Life, Happiness, and Respect for Women, aimed at making visible, preventing, and eradicating violence against women, adolescent girls, and children across the country.
During her morning press conference, “Las mañaneras del pueblo,” Sheinbaum stressed that sexual harassment and sexual abuse must be treated as serious crimes and not tolerated as normalized conduct. She underscored the importance of promoting both legal reforms and a deep process of education and cultural transformation. “Aggressions against women cannot be seen as custom; they must be questioned and eradicated,” she stated.
The commitment is made up of 10 priority actions, including permanent anti-violence campaigns, harmonizing the criminal definition of sexual abuse in state legal codes, creating safe pathways, improving response protocols, training public servants with a gender perspective, and providing comprehensive support for indirect victims of femicide.
Representing the Legislative Branch, federal deputy Anais Miriam Burgos Hernández and senator Martha Lucía Mícher Camarena reported on legislative advances that will allow nationwide harmonization of laws through the Xicoténcatl Alliance, in order to ensure substantive equality and guarantee justice for women at every level.
Women’s Secretary Citlalli Hernández Mora explained that 22 states have already filed initiatives to modify the criminal classification of sexual abuse, 10 submitted them simultaneously, and one has already been approved in committee. She also announced the creation of the Punto Género platform to train state prosecutors’ offices and the rollout of awareness campaigns in media, social networks, and public spaces. UN Women Mexico representative Moni Pizani Orsini welcomed the joint effort and said no national project is compatible with violence against women, while Deputy Secretary Ingrid Gómez Saracibar presented five pillars of the 16 Days of Activism, including outreach, community engagement, institutional strengthening, reflection forums, and training processes focused on equality, prevention, and respect for women’s rights.
