Empowering women and girls in Mexican communities

During these months, we continued to monitor the progress of the different organizations that fight for a society where all people, including women, people of gender diversity, children, and adolescents, live a life free of violence and discrimination. The groups work in 24 states in the country, and their agendas include a variety of strategies to prevent violence, including accompaniment, awareness-raising, advocacy with local authorities, legal advice and defense, psycho-emotional support, and even research.

Ja Ixuke and Ñepi, Corazón Verde are organizations that promote women's* leadership and economic autonomy through the generation of productive projects. This is especially important in a context of deterioration of women's purchasing power, which is why having their own income helps them to break out of circles of violence. Ja Ixuke, for example, provided materials to strengthen the handicraft work of embroidery collectives and craftswomen.

On the other side, in La Paz, State of Mexico, Fundación Cauce Ciudadano offered workshops on employability, dressmaking, and psychological support to hundreds of women so that they can get a good job or start their own businesses. While they work in Ciudad Retoño, a community space of this foundation, their children can take art, sports, or language workshops. This allows them to have some peace of mind and not worry about leaving their children alone. The other two groups – Comando Colibrí and Mutatis Mutandis - trained women* in integral self-defense with a gender perspective.

“...at first I didn't want to [attend the workshop] because my eye was damaged and because of my arm (a fracture with important sequelae), and I thought I wouldn't be able to do anything, but I realized that, even so, I can defend myself.”

51-year-old participant in the physical self-defense workshop given by Comando Colibrí

The organizations also generated educational and awareness-raising actions, which helped 377 girls and women learn more about their rights. This is extremely relevant in contexts with a high incidence of dating and domestic violence, sexual abuse, unwanted teenage pregnancies, and early unions. All of these limit opportunities for women and girls.

Finally, the organizations reported that they increased or improved the services they offer, including food, education and culture, legal, health, security, recreation, self-care and collective care, and lodging.