In 2021, 70% of women in Mexico reported having experienced some type of violence in their lives, mostly by men. More specifically, 40% of them reported the acts of violence being committed by their partner at the time. In 2022, 968 women were victims of femicide, which meant an increase of 127% in comparison with the numbers registered in 2015. In 2023, 769 women were murdered due to gender-based violence. In 2024, 50 femicides were committed against trans women, out of which, 27 involved firearms. And where has all this led to? Everyday more than 10 women are murdered in Mexico due to gender violence and sexism, and only 24% of these cases are investigated as femicides. Likewise, domestic violence has increased like never seen before, as well as sexual violence. However, women are no longer putting up with all these aggressions without fighting back. Last year, 90 000 women took to the streets of the country on March 8th, the International Women’s Day, to ask for a stop to the unbelievable increase of gender violence.
As a consequence of all the offenses against women, many have risen as activists, politicians, journalists, and more, trying to change local and federal laws to help benefit all victims and break the cycle of systematic abuse. Nevertheless, when paying close attention to the origin story of these laws it becomes disheartening. For starters, Ingrid Law arose after the femicide of Ingrid Escamilla by her partner in 2020 and the distribution of very explicit photos of her body in the media. This law seeks to stop the distribution of images showing murder and femicide victims to protect the dignity of both the victims and their families. Afterwards, Olimpia Law, approved in 2021 at a federal level, advocates for the recognition of digital violence and punishing crimes that violate people’s sexual privacy through digital means, also known as cyber violence. It arose as a result of the unauthorized distribution of a video with sexual content of the woman Olimpia Coral Melo by her boyfriend at the time. Olimpia Law imposes a punishment of 3 to 6 years in prison, as well as the obligatory payment to cover all damages, physical and psychological, towards the victims of digital violence. Unfortunately, the law has not been as effective as expected because authorities struggle to believe victims and act fast against aggressors.
Later on, in 2022, Monse Law appeared. It consists of reforming article 400 of the Federal Penal Code to eliminate, in cases of femicide and homicide, the absolution that exists for any person who helps or protects the alleged perpetrator. This law was inspired by the case of Montserrat Bendimes Roldán, who died after receiving a beating by her husband. The man’s parents took her to the hospital a few moments before passing while also aiding his son to flee the scene. Moreover, in 2023 two more laws emerged, Sabina Law and Monzón Law. Monzón Law is named after the activist Cecilia Monzón, murdered by her ex-partner, who while in prison tried to retain custody of their son. This legislation seeks to remove the parental rights of children when the father attempts or commits femicide against the mother. It proposes an eight-year sentence for officials who fail to act or hinder the investigation. Additionally, it advocates to reform the sentences for cases where the femicide has been perpetrated in the presence of the woman’s children, where the sentence should increase from 40-60 years to 50-70 years. Meanwhile, Sabina Law, inspired by Sabina, a minor who was a victim of economic violence by her father, seeks the legal obligation of paying debts in alimony, as well as creating a National Registry of Alimony Debtors against parents who refuse to pay alimony for their children. In addition, this law seeks to not allow men who are in alimony debt to hold public office or any candidacy.
In the same way, last year, 2024, another two laws came to light: Paola Buenrostro Law and Malena Law. Paola Buenrostro Law imposes up to 70 years in prison for those who murder a trans person or any person who is feminine presenting for reasons of gender identity or gender expression; in fewer words, advocates to punish people that commit trans femicide. This law is named after Paola Buenrostro, a transgender sex worker who was murdered in 2016 by Arturo Felipe Delgadillo Olvera, who confessed to having killed her after hearing her voice and knowing that she was a trans woman. Correlated, Malena Law seeks punishment for those who attack women with corrosive liquids with sentences of up to 40 years in prison. The law was adjudicated after María Elena Ríos suffered an acid attack in September 2019, by the former government representative Juan Carlos Vera Carrizal.
All the same, The General Law of Women’s Access to a Life Free of Violence is a Mexican law that provides the most protection for violence victims. This law establishes the principles and modalities to prevent, punish and eradicate violence against women. It was first published in 2007, and the last reform was done in 2024, nonetheless, clearly it has not been enough to effectively guarantee women’s safety. How many more reforms are needed? How many more laws with the names of deceased or severely affected victims must be presented upon the senate? Where do these horror stories end? or stop? Mexico is irrefutably facing a gender based crisis where women are the main casualties; whether we want to face it or not. And it remains unclear what actions can be done from a legal perspective that will in fact help diminish the intensity of the situation. Women are fighting from every place they can; protests on the streets, teaching about sexual education in schools, researching gender theory in academia, running for office, working at health clinics, and more. Yet, the government needs to wake up and support them from the official channels with tangible efforts, not just written empty statements, for a palpable change to happen.
