Background and Relevance
The Mexican government, under the leadership of President Claudia Sheinbaum, has launched an initiative titled “Yes to Disarmament, Yes to Peace.” This program aims to reduce violence by encouraging voluntary surrender of firearms in exchange for cash. The initiative has gained traction since its start on January 10, with over 1,550 weapons handed in for destruction.
Program Details and Achievements
The program has seen the collection of 1,017 short firearms, 405 long firearms, and 128 grenades, along with ammunition and magazines. Among these, 40 are semi-automatic rifles such as AR15, AK47, M-16, and G3, along with 12 submachine guns in.9 and.45 calibers.
In collaboration with the Catholic Church and the Ministry of National Defense, seven entities have set up exchange modules. A new module will be established at Puebla’s Cathedral starting the following Wednesday.
The program has seen success in Tijuana, Baja California, where 97 short firearms, 70 long firearms, two grenades, over 9,000 bullets, and more than 5,000 detonators were collected. Additionally, 22 semi-automatic rifles were surrendered.
The initiative also encourages children to exchange toy weapons for educational and didactic ones, resulting in over 3,600 toy exchanges so far.
Comprehensive Community Support
Beyond disarmament, the government’s “Attention to the Causes that Generate Violence” strategy includes providing free basic medical services, dental care, vaccinations, addiction prevention, and mental health support to communities.
- Health Services: Professionals conducted glucose, blood pressure, weight, and height measurements, rapid HIV and prostate-specific antigen tests, vision exams, and cervical cancer screenings.
- Vulnerable Communities: Mobile clinics offered dental care, toothbrushes, and health recommendations. Health professionals visited communities to administer vaccines to children, pregnant women, and the elderly.
- Addiction Prevention: Through the “For Peace and Against Addictions” campaign, workshops were conducted, and guidance materials distributed to families, aiming to prevent suicide and drug use.
- Administrative Assistance: The program offered advice on vacation days, data correction, pensions, and retirement for Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS) beneficiaries.
Collaborative Efforts
The successful execution of these activities is owed to the collaboration of various institutions, including the Secretary of Health, IMSS, IMSS-Bienestar, ISSSTE, Defense, Navy, National Guard, Sistema Nacional del DIF, National Commission for Mental Health and Addictions, Cruz Roja Mexicana, and state and local health authorities.
Through over 1,700 Peace Days, the 32 state and 266 regional peace tables have promoted citizens’ right to health.
The government continues its house-to-house visits to understand community needs and invite participation in peace initiatives. They are also forming participatory communities through peace committees.
Peace fairs have brought government programs and services closer to the people, with recent activities in Tila and La Trinitaria, Chiapas, offering vaccination, dengue prevention, IMSS-Bienestar credential distribution, birth certificate applications, and CURP certification.
These combined efforts have resulted in over 1.3 million direct interventions across the country.
