Miriam Saldaña, a local deputy of the Labor Party (PT), proposed a reform to change the traditional order of 'paternal surname' and 'maternal surname' in the procedures of Mexico City with the aim of combating discrimination and inequality.
Saldaña's proposal seeks to replace the terms 'paternal surname' and 'maternal surname' with 'first surname' and 'second surname' when registering names on official documents. This aims to eliminate the implicit hierarchy in the traditional way of naming people, prioritizing gender equality.
The deputy, who holds a degree in Philosophy and has a master's degree in Law from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), has been part of the VI Legislative Assembly and is currently a deputy of the PT and chairs the Commission on Public Space Use and Utilization. In her proposal, she mentions the importance of standardizing registration formats to avoid exclusion and confusion when positioning one surname over the other.
Saldaña emphasizes that the modification of surname terms in procedures aims to promote equal rights between men and women, fulfilling Mexico’s international commitments regarding gender equity. In another previous initiative, the deputy advocated in 2013 for the dissemination and promotion of women's political rights in commemoration of the '60th anniversary of women's voting.'
