Mexico’s First Female President Unveils Reforms to Combat Gender Discrimination

By Brendan O’Boyle and Ana Isabel Martinez

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Claudia Sheinbaum was inaugurated this week as Mexico’s first female president, and on her second day in office, she unveiled a series of reforms designed to enhance women’s rights in a nation grappling with high levels of gender violence.

Sheinbaum’s proposed reforms aim to articulate and expand women’s rights, which include a constitutional guarantee for equal pay for equal work. Statistics reveal that women in Mexico earn only 65 pesos for every 100 pesos received by men, according to data from the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness.

The reforms are also focused on ensuring freedom from violence against women and mandating gender parity in government cabinets at both state and federal levels. To implement these changes, six articles of the Constitution and seven secondary laws will be modified, and they are expected to gain approval in Congress, where the ruling party and its allies hold significant majorities.

The former mayor of Mexico City and protégé of ex-President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Sheinbaum emphasized that it is "time for women" as she took office on Tuesday. She highlighted that the proposed reforms are part of a broader initiative to increase awareness among women about their rights and to help them recognize instances of gender-based discrimination. To further this goal, her administration plans to establish a women’s bill of rights.

"The disparities in wages and the violence against women stem from discrimination," Sheinbaum stated.

Her cabinet features Mexico’s first women’s minister, who presented the proposals during a press conference. In recent years, Mexico has made notable progress in enhancing women’s representation in government roles, demonstrated by Sheinbaum’s election, the appointment of the first female head of the Supreme Court, the first female governor of the central bank, and achieving gender parity in Congress.

Despite these advancements, violence against women continues to be a critical issue. A survey conducted by the country’s statistics agency in 2022 revealed that over 70% of the 50.5 million women and girls aged 15 and older reported experiencing some form of violence, a four percentage point increase from 2016.

Moreover, Brazil has seen alarming rates of femicide and a troubling climate of impunity, resulting in a series of protests. On average, between 9 and 10 women are murdered daily, according to government data, with tens of thousands more reported missing.