Introduction of 15 Emergency Measures to Combat Gender Violence
On August 25, 2025, the Chief of Government of Mexico City, Clara Brugada Molina, announced “Actions for Life and Justice: Alert for Violence Against Women in Mexico City,” a permanent strategy aimed at preventing, addressing, punishing, and eradicating violence against women in the capital.
Building on Previous Efforts
Brugada Molina emphasized that this policy is not a new beginning but an intensification of work done in previous years. She acknowledged the efforts of teams and institutions involved in this initiative, referencing the 2019 gender violence alert declared by former Chief of Government Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, now President of Mexico.
Key Achievements and New Actions
The Chief of Government highlighted past achievements, including the creation of the Feminicide Investigation Fiscalía, the Women’s Lawyers program, and the Safe Routes strategy. She announced 15 new actions to close impunity loopholes and ensure justice for women:
- Creation of specialized gender violence mixed courts.
- Legislative initiative to regulate hotels and prevent gender-based crimes.
- Issuance of a feminicide and transfeminicide investigation protocol.
- Strengthening forensic capabilities for identifying perpetrators in sexual assault and feminicide cases.
- Attention to motherless children due to feminicide.
- Strengthening the inter-institutional mechanism for protective measures for victims of gender violence.
- Reinforcing mandatory re-education programs for perpetrators of gender violence.
- Implementing a zero-tolerance policy for sexual violence committed by police officers.
- Creation of the Women’s Advocacy Office.
- Establishment of a mental health clinic for women victims of violence.
- Launching informational campaigns on comprehensive sexuality education for adolescents.
- Creation of a specialized mechanism for locating women and girls in Mexico City.
- Deployment of the Gender Police with 430 proximity officers.
- Promotion of an Integral Strategy for the Investigation of Rape.
- Presentation of a legislative reform to the Women’s Access to a Violence-Free Life Law and the Domestic Violence section of the Penal Code in Mexico City.
Commitment to Ending Gender Violence
Brugada Molina stressed that revising the law to recognize gender violence within families affirms it’s not about domestic disputes but structural violence predominantly affecting women. She concluded with a call to action: “In Mexico City, any abuser of women will face justice; no woman will be left alone against violence; violence will never again be invisible. No silence, no impunity, here we build justice for women.”
Supporting Roles and Figures
Secretary of Women, Daptnhe Cuevas Ortiz, emphasized the current government’s commitment as a “feminist government” ensuring women’s right to live free from violence. She explained that the Gender Violence Alert, declared by the previous government, was reviewed to identify successful actions for continued public policy and new urgent, prioritized actions.
Fiscal General of Justice, Bertha María Alcalde Luján, reaffirmed her institution’s commitment to combating gender violence. She highlighted the importance of the alert as a fundamental tool and mentioned strengthening feminicide and transfeminicide investigations, from initial suspicion to comprehensive gender-focused training for investigative personnel. She reported a 22% increase in feminicide prosecutions from the same period in 2024 and a decrease from 42 cases in 2024 to 24 in 2025.
Secretary of Health, Nadine Gasman Zylbermann, pointed out two significant measures: creating a mental health clinic for violence-affected women and launching informational campaigns on comprehensive sexuality education (EIS).
Legal and Services Legal Advisor, Eréndira Cruzvillegas Fuentes, detailed the actions taken: 345 women assisted in adolescent justice from October 2024 to July 2025; 332 women advised in penal matters; and 2,629 legal representations for women. She mentioned defining crucial actions for the Gender Violence Alert, including reforming the Women’s Access to a Violence-Free Life Law and Mexico City Penal Code and the Mercantile Establishments Law for Mexico City.
Deputy Secretary of Institutional Development in the City Security Department, María del Rosario Novoa Peniche, announced the creation of the “Safe Housing” program for women, girls, and adolescents in Mexico City. This initiative provides safe spaces for women to escape violent circles. She also mentioned the Labor Harassment and Sexual Intimidation Prevention Protocol developed by the City Security Department and the Gender Unit’s role in ensuring justice for women victims of sexual crimes committed by police.
Deployment of Gender Police
The event concluded with the Chief of Government giving the starting signal for 30 Gender Police units, which will increase to 73 by year’s end. These distinctive morado-colored units symbolize justice, equality, and dignity, composed of 438 proximity officers with technical training joining the existing 3,600 certified women’s care personnel.
