Funding Allocation: Tren Maya vs. Violence Prevention Programs
The 2026 PPEF (Programa Presupuestal de Egresos Federales) allocates 744 million pesos to the Tren Maya project and 856 million pesos to the Program for Prevention and Detection of Femicide and Attention of Causes. This allocation has raised questions about the priorities set by the government, particularly regarding the lack of specific references to shelters for abused women, their children, and daughters in both the PPEF and its annexes.
The Absence of Shelter Support: A Concern for Women’s Lives
The merging of shelter programs, justice centers, and gender alert systems into a single program for “resource efficiency,” as stated by the Secretariat of Women, appears strange and opaque. This concern is amplified when the program’s budget is included in the PPEF without detailing which resources correspond to each of these programs and measures, despite their interrelated and complementary purposes. These distinct programs are administered by different entities and should be evaluated using different criteria.
Expert Opinion: Wendy Figueroa, Director of the National Network of Shelters (RNR)
Wendy Figueroa, Director of the RNR, expresses concern over the elimination of the “Shelters” category from Anexo 13 and the PPEF in general. She believes this move signifies a step backward in defending and ensuring the human rights of women and their children.
Figueroa emphasizes that safeguarding women’s human rights should be a state policy to ensure continuous funding for shelters serving abused women, many of whom are at risk of femicide. She stresses that these resources must be progressive and distributed on time to prevent shelter closures, as has happened this year due to delayed funding.
Opacity and Discretion: The RNR’s Struggle
Figueroa points out that including shelters in a generic program leads to opacity and discretion. The RNR has faced various obstacles for several administrations, including insufficient budgets, lack of transparency regarding project selection criteria, and delayed funding that threatens shelter closures.
The Reality of Increasing Violence Against Women
Contrary to official claims, violence against women has escalated. The RNR reports a 5% increase in shelter attendances and a 500% rise in external attention centers. Figueroa also highlights that femicide is not always properly categorized, and many cases go unreported. Moreover, other forms of violence—such as those occurring in public transportation, digital platforms, workplaces, and schools—are often overlooked.
The Need for Effective Public Policies
Figueroa acknowledges the importance of informing the public about their rights but questions the purpose of distributing the Cartilla de Derechos Humanos without indicating where to seek help when needed. She argues that without effective, comprehensive, transversal, and gender-intersecting public policies with a gender intersectional perspective, the country cannot address male violence.
RNR’s Demands for the 2026 PPEF
Despite the triumphalist rhetoric of the government and its intolerance to criticism, the RNR continues to advocate for the state’s obligation to ensure women’s right to live free from violence. The RNR demands that the 2026 PPEF explicitly include shelters and their allocated resources to ensure their continuity, capacity, and contribution to femicide prevention.
Key Questions and Answers
- What are the main concerns regarding the 2026 PPEF’s funding allocation? The primary concern is the disproportionate funding for Tren Maya compared to essential programs like violence prevention and the lack of specific references to women’s shelters.
- Why is the absence of shelter support in the PPEF a matter of life and death? Shelters play a crucial role in protecting women at risk of femicide. Their absence or insufficient funding can lead to tragic consequences.
- How does the merging of programs affect transparency and accountability? Merging distinct programs without clear budget allocations leads to opacity, making it difficult to assess their effectiveness and necessity.
- What is the reality of violence against women in Mexico? Despite official claims, violence against women has increased. This includes both reported and unreported cases of femicide, as well as other forms of violence in various settings.
- What are the RNR’s demands for the 2026 PPEF? The RNR demands explicit inclusion of shelters and their resources in the PPEF to ensure their continuity, capacity, and contribution to femicide prevention.
