The president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, signed on Friday the first constitutional reforms presented during her term, focused on gender equality with the goal of eliminating the wage gap and combating violence against women. These amendments imply changes to six articles of the Constitution and seven legal provisions, highlighting the modification of article 4 to include the "right to substantive equality" and "to a life free of violence."
During her morning appearance, Sheinbaum emphasized the historical importance of these reforms by stating: "women are already in the constitution, our rights are guaranteed in the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States." The historical inequality that exists, which goes beyond access to education and health, is recognized, and the need to open all spaces to resolve it is underscored.
The reforms also affect article 21 of the Constitution, which will now require security institutions to work with a gender perspective. Furthermore, it establishes the obligation to have specialized prosecutors to investigate gender-based crimes in all states of the country.
In Mexico, the gender wage gap is reflected in women earning on average 14% less than men for the same work. Additionally, less than half of women participate in the labor market, and 70% of them earn less than two minimum wages, according to data from the Mexican Institute of Competitiveness (IMCO).
To achieve these objectives, modifications will be made to the General Law of Substantive Equality, the Federal Labor Law, and the Law of Workers at the Service of the State. The initiatives also aim to promote gender parity in the Federal Public Administration and in state and municipal cabinets.
