In Mexico, six in 10 women over 15 years of age have experienced some form of violence from their partner, said the president of the National Women's Institute (Inmujeres), Lorena Cruz Sánchez.
She said the national figure, which is twice the international average, was unveiled in the Report of the World Health Organization released last week. It points out
"gender violence as a public health problem that affects more than one third of the women in the world."At the International Meeting for Equality and Non-Discrimination: Towards a Future of Equality, held yesterday at the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs, the official said that discrimination is at the root of the worst crimes against women. Femicide and trafficking in women and girls are two of those that ought to be punished in an exemplary manner.
She pointed out that the various forms of violence against women in this country include physical, economic, sexual, emotional, employment, property, family, and even in school, as it not only affects adult women, but children and adolescents.
She also said that there are developments that give hope in achieving full recognition of the rights of women, such as the legal framework which guarantees legal protection, the creation of specific institutions for the care of different groups of women and the growing budget earmarked for these tasks.
Furthermore, an agreement with the Secretariat of the Treasury and Public Credit sets forth the obligation of having the National Program for Equal Opportunities and Non-Discrimination against Women supercede special sector and regional programs, so that its objectives, strategies and lines of action are mandatory in all federal departments and agencies.
However,
"the discrimination that many women still are subject to invalidates daily the right to equality, to live without violence and to have aspirations."Lorena Cruz Sanchez said that gender discrimination and inequality are among the root causes of violence against women and girls, including its multiple expressions. It places women in disadvantaged positions in all areas:
"We are separated from justice, decent or well-paid work, from the culture and health. Maternal deaths are a case in point."Spanish original