Mexican Government Commits to Eradicating Violence Against Women

ByJorge Salcedo

This article by Jorge Salcedo originally appeared in the November 25, 2025 edition of El Sol de México.

President Claudia Sheinbaum signed an agreement to promote the protection of women’s rights in Mexico through 10 specific commitments. such as standardizing the criminal offenses of sexual abuse in the country’s 32 federal entities and ensuring that complaints are not dismissed by prosecutors or courts of justice.

At a press conference from the National Palace, the Secretary of Women, Citlalli Hernández, presented the National Commitment for Life, Happiness and Respect for Women together with the governors of the entire country, as well as the presidents of the Gender Equality commissions in the local congresses, with which the Mexican State seeks to strengthen the strategy of protection towards women through awareness campaigns and the harmonization of the national legal framework.

The announcement was attended by all the women in the government cabinet, as well as the representative of UN Women in Mexico , Moni Pizani, who explained that November 25 was declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 1999 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women due to the murder of three Dominican feminist sisters in 1960 who were known as Las Mariposas (The Butterflies).

Following the designation, the United Nations Secretary-General launched a campaign for 16 days of activism starting on November 25 to mobilize civil society and States to deepen the call for respect and promotion of women’s rights.

The national strategy implemented in Mexico includes three main lines of action. The first focuses on preventing and eradicating sexual violence against women, the second addresses digital violence, and the third focuses on the actions of men who are building a just and violence-free reality.

“We propose, for example, that men reflect on relating to each other with love, not hate; on saying no to sexism, yes to respect; on building peaceful and non-violent relationships; on recognizing the historical inequalities that women have faced compared to men in various spheres. We also call on men, of course, to assume a more present and responsible role as fathers,” and in general, that men and women together promote a life free from violence for all people,” declared the Secretary for Women.

During the presentation, Secretary Citlalli Hernández said that sexual abuse was clearly defined within the Federal Penal Code in its article 260, where penalties of between three and seven years in prison are also defined, as well as a fine of between 200 and 500 times the daily value of the Unit of Measurement and Update.

The Secretary added that aggravating circumstances are also outlined for this crime if it is committed with violence, or if a religious minister or public official is involved. These provisions have already been sent to 22 state legislatures, and ten more are expected to receive them today.

The chairs of the Gender Equality Committees in the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate expressed their support for this legislation. Deputy Anaís Burgos explained that the legislators named this initiative the Xicoténcatl Agreement, which represents progress toward achieving substantive equality for women.

Among the ten points outlined in this commitment are plans to transmit awareness messages about the violence suffered by women in communication spaces ; that no complaint be dismissed by a prosecutor’s office or court of justice; follow up on complaints through 079 in case they are not addressed; establish coordination tables with mobility authorities to prevent violence on public transport; guarantee all women’s rights; create safe routes; among others.

As part of this commitment, all schools in the country will dedicate the 25th of each month to activities that promote the rights of girls, young women, and women. Public officials will also receive training on these issues, and support will be provided to the families of direct victims of femicide.

10 Commitments

  1. Promote the ongoing campaign for equality and against violence to contribute to cultural change.
     
  2. To accompany the homologation process of the criminal type of “sexual abuse”.
     
  3. In coordination with the local Prosecutor’s Offices and Courts of the Judicial Branch, ensure that no complaint is dismissed or rejected: The number 079 option 1 is made available to victims for follow-up.
     
  4. Establish a coordination table with the mobility agencies of the federal entities to develop guidelines and actions for the prevention and attention of violence in public and concessionary transport.
     
  5. Full rights for all women in every state of the country. Standardize laws that protect women, addressing issues such as digital violence, vicarious violence, acid attacks, etc.
     
  6. Creation of safe pathways in public spaces with the highest rates of violence against women.
     
  7. Carry out activities in schools, on the 25th of each month, to promote equality and respectful treatment between boys and girls.
     
  8. To train and certify public servants to perform their duties with a gender perspective.
     
  9. Establish a permanent working group between the Women’s Secretariat, the Judiciary, and the prosecutor’s offices to update and strengthen the protocols for addressing and investigating violence in order to expedite the prosecution and access to justice for women.
     
  10. To accompany with specific actions the comprehensive care of the indirect victims of femicide.