The Government of Mexico City, through the Citizen Council for Security and Justice, reported that as of International Women's Day in 2019, assistance has been provided to 1,252,799 women, with the most reported gender-based crime being family and digital violence. In a press release, the agency, dedicated to offering support to citizens through its Security Line and Trust Chat, detailed that 70% of cyberattacks are directed at women and highlighted that in 'sextortion' cases, 'there is strong intimidation generated by threats to disseminate intimate material,' in 48% of cases. 'The use of artificial intelligence to generate false images and content has increased,' pointed out the agency's executive secretary, Ramón Beltrán, who also emphasized that they are currently working with the private sector to 'promote protection networks for women on digital platforms.' The document also stressed that in most cases, it is the victim who communicates to ask for help, and a large part of them are women between 18 and 30 years old. 'The requests for assistance have been concentrated mainly in legal advice in 60% of cases, followed by psychological support, which represents 30% of total interactions,' it was indicated. Meanwhile, the councilor of the organization, María Elena Esparza, highlighted that to combat gender violence, it is essential to 'look at the demands of women in terms of security, emotional well-being, and parity.' 'Prevention is not enough, it is necessary to address the structural causes,' she stated in a country where more than 70% of Mexican women over 15 have experienced at least one type of violence, such as sexual (48%), psychological (52%), or physical (35%), according to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI). In this context, nearly 10 million Mexican women have suffered some form of digital violence, representing 22% of internet users in the country. In Mexico, the non-consensual dissemination of sexual and intimate images on the internet is punishable by up to six years in prison thanks to the so-called 'Olympia Law,' which has national reach due to the struggle led by activist Olimpia Coral Melo, who was a victim of this aggression by her romantic partner.
