As part of the “Engendering Safety” initiative, the Mexico Institute has created a blog in which writers can share their insights and analysis of the state of women’s safety and posit viable recommendations to curb rising femicide rates. The goal of this forum is to disseminate information, raise awareness, and present diverse points of view on the matter to inform policymakers in Mexico as they legislate on gender-related crimes, namely femicide.
The Mexico Institute has launched the “Engendering Safety: Addressing Femicide in Mexico” initiative to shed light on the root causes of gender-related crimes and homicides in Mexico and develop policy options to mitigate this growing issue.
Since 2012, Mexico's Federal Penal Code defines femicide as a specific type of homicide in which a woman is murdered on account of her gender. A homicide is considered a femicide when the victim is female and one or more of the following seven circumstances are met: 1) there are signs of sexual violence; 2) the victim suffered degrading wounds or was mutilated, be it pre- or posthumously; 3) there are records of any type of violence in family, work, or school settings involving the suspect and the victim; 4) the victim and the suspect had an emotional, physical, or particularly trusting relationship; 5) there is indication that the suspect previously threatened to kill, harass/abuse, or cause bodily harm to the victim; 6) the victim was held incommunicado prior to her assassination; or 7) the victim’s body was publicly exposed or exhibited.
Despite expanded legal frameworks to address gender-related crimes, Mexico has seen a significant increase in femicides over the last decade. Between 2015 and 2021, the number of annual femicide cases increased by 132 percent, claiming 5,492 women’s lives altogether.
As part of the “Engendering Safety” initiative, the Mexico Institute has created a blog in which writers can share their insights and analysis of the state of women’s safety and posit viable recommendations to curb rising femicide rates. The goal of this forum is to disseminate information, raise awareness, and present diverse points of view on the matter to inform policymakers in Mexico as they legislate on gender-related crimes, namely femicide.
To contribute to this blog, please submit a piece of no more than 900 words to Samantha.kane@wilsoncenter.org. Submissions can be in English or in Spanish. If selected, our team will translate and publish the text in both languages.
The Mexico Institute seeks to improve understanding, communication, and cooperation between Mexico and the United States by promoting original research, encouraging public discussion, and proposing policy options for enhancing the bilateral relationship. A binational Advisory Board, chaired by Luis Téllez and Earl Anthony Wayne, oversees the work of the Mexico Institute. Read more
