Empowering women and girls in Mexican communities

Currently, Fondo Semillas supports 15 groups integrated by 176 women and trans women who work in the prevention and attention of violence in 16 states of Mexico. Their work has reached 7,868 people in these months, creating a significant impact in their communities. By implementing strategies that address the root causes of violence, they raise awareness in communities, promote a culture of peace, and seek to restore the social network. They also carry out activities that encourage women* to take on leadership roles, and promote economic autonomy and access to decision-making spaces.

In addition, these organizations work with women, trans, and intersex people in highly vulnerable situations, many of whom are migrants, Indigenous people, people with disabilities, sex workers, women deprived of their liberty or who have been in prison. Among the supported groups are collectives of women searching for missing family members, and survivors of femicides, who fight for justice and prevention of these situations of violence.

Despite the achievements of the organizations, this year has been especially violent in terms of transfeminicides, with 8 trans women murdered in Mexico City, and only two cases with people arrested. These crimes, often involving extreme violence, reflect a devastating reality. From 2007 to 2023, the Centro de Atención a las Identidades Trans has documented 751 crimes against trans people in Mexico, although it is estimated that the actual number could be up to three times higher.

"As a group we have made significant progress in discovering several clandestine burials. This discovery represents more than an achievement, it is a crucial step towards justice and peace for several families who have lived with the uncertainty and pain of not knowing the whereabouts of their beloved ones”.

-          Desaparecid@s de la Costa y Feminicidios de Michoacán

In this context, the groups we are supporting condemn hate speech and conditions of violence, document cases, and raise awareness of these problems to build just societies free of discrimination. They work to impact laws and public policies that protect people and educate authorities to guarantee the rights of women, trans, and intersex people.

"I feel very grateful for the support and trust I have received at the Foundation. I am retaking the dreams that I thought I had lost and that includes finishing my high school. A little while ago I read in an image "if you go at your own pace, it's not too late" and it is very true, it is never too late to restart what we are looking forward to. What they did to me is something that I will never be able to overcome, but I know that not everything is pain and suffering. If it were like that, life would be unsustainable. Thank you for being with me in these moments. I know that everything you do is to make me better and I feel supported, loved, and cherished by all of you. I promise to give it my all and make the most of everything".

-          Roberta, Fundación Carmen Sánchez

In summary, during these months we have achieved:

• 781 women, trans, and intersex people know their rights better.
• 71.4% of the organizations have improved their services in areas such as food, education, culture, legality, health, safety, and recreation.
• 11 institutions have changed their practices in favor of the well-being, autonomy, and exercise of the rights of girls, women, trans, and intersex people.

Violence against women in Mexico is a complex and persistent reality in our current society. This problem reflects an alarming situation where the human rights of women, adolescents, and girls are violated, and where gender inequality is deeply rooted in all aspects of social life. According to data from 2022, a total of 122,011 women were victims of some crime in the country, and most of them (73%) reported having suffered some kind of injury. In addition, 339,451 calls to 911 were registered for gender violence. These numbers reveal an increase of 235% compared to 2015, and 32% more than in 2021 (El Economista, 2023). However, these numbers are only the tip of the iceberg of a much deeper problem.

Beyond the evident physical, psychological, sexual, and economic violence, there is a network of cultural structures and practices that perpetuate discrimination and subordination of women. It is necessary to address this complex reality in a comprehensive and sensitized way in order to generate real change in society.

Currently, Fondo Semillas finances 23 groups that implement preventive actions to address and stop violence in their communities. The activities they conduct seek to promote leadership and autonomy, encouraging women to participate in decision-making in their communities. They also focus on addressing gender inequality as a root cause of this violence and creating conditions that prevent it from continuing to happen.

Throueh different means of communication and activities such as flyers, postcard distribution, active use of social networks, theater plays, workshops, roundtables, and radio programs, the organizations have managed to reach more than 12,000 girls, adolescents, and women. These actions include educational strategies, legal and juridical advice, psychological support, and measures to ensure economic justice. They aim to strengthen community networks and create safe spaces to inform about the right to a life free of violence.

Among these organizations is Red por la Igualdad de Género (REDIGE), which offers a self-care program for survivors of sexual violence. In this space, women learn about their right to choose whether and how to denounce, recognizing that the ability to decide after having experienced this type of violence is a crucial part of the healing process.

"Admirable and compassionate work that contributes to support resilient bodies."

Women participant in REDIGE workshops

On the other hand, the collective De Morras para Morras provides safe spaces to practice feminist self-defense, offering physical, psychological, and legal tools for the defense of women. These spaces have promoted solidarity among the participants, who continue to meet to continue practicing and sharing what they have learned. In addition, some girls have been able to influence their families to promote a culture of denunciation of violence against women.

Other organizations consider that the promotion of sports and self-care spaces is fundamental to prevent violence and rebuild the social fabric. For example, Más Sueños works in areas of high marginalization and poverty, creating safe spaces where women and girls can practice sports.

At the same time, we support organizations that offer legal, emotional, and psychological accompaniment. Círculo Feminista, for example, provides workshops on legal self-defense for public demonstrations, arbitrary detentions, and labor rights violations. Voces de Mujeres focuses on cases of digital violence and sexual violence, achieving justice processes against aggressors. Consorcio Para el Diálogo Parlamentario y la Equidad and Las Temis offer legal accompaniment and litigation, seeking protection for women victims of violence.

"(...) our client's hope in justice returned to her, and for her it was worth everything that was done and achieved, in addition to the fact that she now has many legal tools, as well as the encouragement to guide and accompany more women who find themselves in similar situations, showing them the way, which for us as an organization is a great satisfaction, the well-being of one more woman safe with her child being free and exercising her loving motherhood. (...) justice is not accessible to all women, that is why our commitment to the community is to open the way, setting precedents so that these can become legally obligatory for the states and thus accessible to all".

Member of Las Temis

Finally, we highlight the efforts to spread information and raise awareness in social networks and the media. Formación y Capacitación A.C., for example, has developed communication and dissemination strategies to combat xenophobia and discrimination, with a strong presence in social networks and radio programs such as "Las Moradas", which have had high rates of interaction and audience throughout the project.

Preventive actions that promote women's leadership and autonomy, together with education and legal and emotional support, are fundamental steps to eradicate gender violence in all its forms. However, it is necessary to continue strengthening these organizations and their initiatives, which together work to dismantle the power structures and cultural norms that perpetuate gender-based violence.