Topic: Violence Against Women
Country: Mexico
Delegate Name: Taylor Potter
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Mexico position papers GLIMUN 2018 committees
Any woman or girl can experience violence. Violence affects people of all incomes, ethnicities, and geographical locations. An estimated 35% of women have experienced violence in their life. Violence is defined by physical, emotional, and/or sexual abuse. Compared to women with no history of abuse, victims of assault have been found more likely to use the medical system as well as seek help in emergency rooms(for reasons related directly to the violence and for other nonspecific issues). Women who have experienced abuse are also more likely to take prescriptions drugs, abuse drugs and alcohol, and require psychiatric care. In Mexico, a new term has been coined for an issue that goes way back; femicide is defined as the killing of women as a hate crime. As a country that strives toward excellence in gender equality, we see the need for further steps to reduce violence. In order for violence against women to decrease so women can feel safe in their city, home, and relationships, the United Nations needs to decide what measures need to be taken in order to decrease this global health problem.
As a country who has suffered at the hand of gender-based violence, Mexico sees the need and desire for further actions to be taken. Mexico has taken the need for action very seriously. In 2007 we passed the General Law on the Access of Women to a Life Free of Violence, a landmark piece of legislation regarding the human rights of women. The law is designed to achieve two things: first, to increase the visibility of violence against women and girls, and second, to create the political will to implement measures to reduce femicide. More recently, with the help of UN Women, Mexico City Women’s Institute brought together transport authorities, public servants, service providers, women, and grassroots organizations to design a programme that prevents sexual violence in public places. Mexico City is also one of 20 cities participating in UN Women's global initiative “Safe Cities and Safe Public Spaces for Women and girls.” Less than a year ago Mexico showed its support for the UN “Leave No One Behind: End Violence Against Women and Girls” by lighting up many of our historical and governmental buildings orange, the color of the campaign, as well as a week-long exposition on femicide in Mexico. Although we are making progress the issue is far from being solved. Over the last decade, Mexico’s staggering wave of drug war violence has masked femicides in the public eye. As a committee, we need to increase education about violence, give women a platform to speak up and increase government regulations when it comes to femicides.
Mexico proposes that the UN create resolutions that take a step forward to end the insufferable violence the women face every day, by urging countries to pass legislation that gives victims and families of victims rights. The UN also needs to put a stop to femicide by educating government officials, including police officers, on how to spot gender-based murder. Mexico would also like to see UN Women lead more successful campaigns that inform the public of how to treat women in public and at home. The new campaigns and laws should aim to change the mindset of how to deal with violence cases, as well as provide incentives for government officials to prosecute cases involving femicide to try and put a stop to it once and for all. A resolution that denounces violence against women will work towards gender equality and the empowerment of women around the globe.
