Claudia Sheinbaum’s Experience with Sexual Harassment
On November 4, 2025, Mexico City’s Mayor and Head of Government, Claudia Sheinbaum, experienced sexual harassment in the city’s Historic Center. Surrounded by journalists, citizens, and her security team, the incident was captured on camera. This event, though not isolated, highlights the reality faced by many women in Mexico.
Legal Definition and Penalization of Sexual Harassment in Mexico
In Mexico, sexual harassment is recognized as a criminal offense at both the federal and state levels. The Federal Criminal Code, specifically Article 259 Ter, defines it as a form of violence involving abusive power with sexual connotations, even in the absence of a subordinate relationship between the victim and perpetrator.
Legislative Recognition of Sexual Harassment
The definition of harassment is part of a series of laws that have been reformed to acknowledge, visualize, and penalize various forms of gender-based violence in public and private spaces.
The General Law on Access to a Life Free from Violence for Women (LGAMVLV) defines it as “a form of violence where, although there is no subordination, there is an abusive exercise of power that leads to a state of vulnerability and risk for the victim.”
According to this law, applicable nationwide, sexual harassment can occur in any context: workplace, educational, community, or digital, and can manifest through words, gestures, insinuations, or non-consensual physical contact.
Unlike sexual harassment, this offense does not require a hierarchical or subordinate relationship between the perpetrator and victim; instead, it relies on the abuse of power or situation.
Thus, its legal recognition aims to broaden victim protection and facilitate the reporting of such incidents.
Variations in State Laws and Application
Although sexual harassment is recognized in federal legislation, each state has its own Criminal Code, leading to diverse forms of classification and punishment.
For instance, in Guanajuato, Article 187-A penalizes those who harass others to perform sexual acts, even without physical contact. In Guerrero, the recent inclusion of “street sexual harassment” as a crime carries penalties up to eight years in prison.
Specifically, in Mexico City, the type penal that regulates sexual harassment is found in the District Federal Criminal Code, Article 179. It states that sexual harassment occurs when “an individual engages in unwanted sexual conduct that causes psychological or emotional harm, injuring the victim’s dignity; this will result in one to three years of imprisonment.”
Sexual Harassment: A Crime, Not a Misunderstanding
Both the Mexican government and state human rights commissions have emphasized that sexual harassment should not be trivialized or viewed as an isolated incident.
Public space sexual harassment is a form of violence that undermines the integrity, freedom, and dignity of individuals, particularly women who constitute the majority of victims of this crime.
Statistics from Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography indicate that nearly half of Mexican women report experiencing public space violence.
While it was Mayor Sheinbaum’s turn today, girls, adolescents, and women face various forms of harassment daily: from uncomfortable or inappropriate comments, whistling, non-consensual photo or video taking, unwanted touching, to stalking or pursuing.
Sexual harassment is a component of gender-based violence; its eradication requires not only penal sanctions but also increased visibility, awareness, and prevention.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is sexual harassment in Mexico? Sexual harassment in Mexico is defined as a form of violence involving abusive power with sexual connotations, even without a subordinate relationship between the victim and perpetrator. It can occur in various contexts, including workplace, educational, community, or digital settings.
- How is sexual harassment penalized in Mexico? Sexual harassment is penalized under the Federal Criminal Code (Article 259 Ter) and the General Law on Access to a Life Free from Violence for Women (LGAMVLV). Penalties range from one to three years of imprisonment, depending on the severity and context.
- Are there variations in how sexual harassment is classified and penalized across Mexican states? Yes, while the federal level recognizes sexual harassment, each state has its own Criminal Code. This leads to diverse classifications and punishments, such as Guanajuato’s Article 187-A and Guerrero’s recent inclusion of “street sexual harassment” as a crime.
- Why is it crucial to take sexual harassment seriously, especially in public spaces? Public space sexual harassment is a form of violence that threatens the integrity, freedom, and dignity of individuals, particularly women. It’s essential to address this issue seriously through legal measures, increased visibility, awareness, and prevention efforts.
