Population size:
127,575,529 [1]
Number of people experiencing domestic abuse each year:
Women experiencing Physical and/or Sexual Intimate Partner Violence in their lifetime: 246%
Women experiencing physical and/or Sexual Intimate Partner Violence in the last 12 months: 95% [2]
Government figures released in November 2019, showed murders of women increased more than 10% in the previous year, with 809 women killed between January and October 2019 specifically because of their gender, compared with 726 in the same period of 2018. A 2017 report by the National Institute for Statistics and Geography found about 66% of women over 15 in Mexico had experienced some form of violence at least once and 44% had been abused by a partner. Security Minister Alfonso Durazo said on Monday almost 125,000 women had been victims of violence in Mexico in 2019. [3]
According to a gender violence study from 2016, the region holds 14 of the 25 countries with the highest rates of femicides (Small arms survey, 2016) [4]
No research on male victims or other gender identities.
Cost of domestic abuse to the economy each year:
No research.
Estimated % change due to COVID-19:
Domestic abuse is expected to grow by 92% during the quarantine period. [5]
Prior to the beginning of the social distancing measures, the 911 emergency number registered 21,727 violence against women related calls for the month of February 2020. Just three weeks after the social distancing measures were announced, federal authorities estimated that violence against women had increased between 30% to 100%. Within this context, domestic violence demonstrated to be one of the most concerning matters of COVID-19. Almost two months after the registration of the first COVID-19 case in Mexico, the Shelter Network observed an increase of 5% in women’s admissions and 60% in guidance via telephone, social networks, or email. Additionally, centres linked to the RNR are at 80% or 110% of their capacity, especially in entities such as Guanajuato, the State of Mexico, and Chiapas. [6]
Current law and policy:
Mexico commits to launch campaigns, strengthen investigation of crimes of violence against women, and provide comprehensive services The Government of Mexico commits to review and consolidate the comprehensive programme for the prevention, punishment and elimination of violence against women, while giving a voice to civil society and different sectors. Specifically, the Government pledges to: launch permanent campaigns, by means of billboards, travelling expositions, plaques, posters, leaflets and other means of communication; Action Protocols for the Investigation of Crimes Against Women; set up Justice Centres for Women, as a space where different government bodies are represented with the aim of providing comprehensive services (social, educational, health, labour, legal, psychological, immigration, among others) to women in situations of violence; and to guarantee allocation of budget with a gender perspective, so as to ensure a life free of violence for women.