Around 800 women, including teachers, students, workers, mother seekers and the elderly, marched this Tuesday in Mexico City to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The mobilization took place peacefully and without incidents, unlike several recent protests that took place through the streets of the capital. The protest, which lasted about three hours, spread from the Glorieta de las Mujeres que Luchan to the Zócalo. There they came across all the buildings surrounding the armored plate with dozens of metal fences. The capital’s government deployed 600 policewomen to the procession, who remained at a distance and did not intervene during the journey.
This is the second screening of the National Palace so far this month and responds to the escalation of violence caused by recent protests in the capital. The annual October 2 march over the Tlatelolco massacre ended in clashes that left dozens of people injured, most of them police officers. During the Generation Z mobilization 10 days ago, some protesters tore down metal fences and clashed with police. There are 18 people linked to proceedings for crimes ranging from robbery to attempted murder. Given the uncertainty of today’s rally call, President Claudia Sheinbaum called hours earlier to demonstrate peacefully. “Women in Mexico are not alone, their President and Government are with them,” she said.
However, Tuesday’s protest ended without violence. Women of all ages participated, including families with newborns, young people, students, workers, activists and older women. Relatives of the missing women and a small contingent of the so-called black bloc also marched calmly past the usual graffiti on fences and buildings. Among the most repeated slogans were “All for one, justice for all”, “Neither cis nor trans, not even one more death” and phrases against indirect violence and feminicides. Various groups have joined, such as anti-gentrification organizations, Palestine solidarity and student groups.
Alicia, 37, marched with a group demanding access to decent housing. She explained that many women have been displaced from their communities of origin and find themselves without support networks: “Some of us are indigenous and are unprotected, homeless,” she said. Samantha, 30, participated with her fellow teachers. He assures them that they work in precarious conditions and that violence also affects their community. “Our students suffer violence and disappearances. Here the salary is insufficient and we ask for decent pensions,” he said. From the Libertarian Mothers collective against indirect violence, Gaby Pablos, whose child was kidnapped by his father at the age of seven months, says: “We are marching demanding justice. We fought for the indirect law so that this type of violence is recognized. My child was taken away from me five years ago and to this day I have not been able to get him back.” The group advocates for the creation of a parental theft alert and promotes legislation to improve the protection of at-risk girls and boys.
Among the relatives of the missing, Aarón Hernández, 33, spoke and asked for the investigation to continue into the case of his friend Ana Amelí, the young hiker who disappeared just over four months ago in Ajusco, south of Mexico City: “You never expect someone you love to enter the statistics of missing persons. We only ask for the support of the National Search Commission and the Prosecutor’s Office”, he assured.
During the morning briefing on Tuesday, the president presented the Global Plan against Sexual Abuse, in 16 days of activism against violence against women. He also announced an agreement with the country’s 32 governors to standardize the crime of sexual abuse in state codes and the federal Criminal Code. “Harassment and abuse against women must be punished,” she said. Sheinbaum insisted that his government work to reduce impunity in gender crimes. In early November, the president filed a complaint after a man touched her inappropriately while she was walking through the historic center. 70% of Mexican women over the age of 15 have experienced some type of violence, and almost half have experienced sexual violence. Nine out of 10 assault reports are filed by women.
Upon arriving at the Zócalo, most of the participants dispersed. A small group remained at the table to read further demands, including severing diplomatic relations with Israel, protecting mothers seeking motherhood and ensuring legal accompaniment for indigenous women.
