WoPAI joins Mexican feminist organisations in calling for amendments to the proposed General Law to Prevent, Investigate and Punish the Crime of Femicide.
The Women’s Platform for Action International (WoPAI) is one of the organisations subscribing to a joint statement by Mexican feminist organisations raising serious concerns about the proposed General Law to Prevent, Investigate and Punish the Crime of Femicide.
The organisations recognise the importance of strengthening the legal framework addressing femicide, while warning that several provisions of the current proposal could weaken existing protections and create new obstacles to justice for women and girls.
One of their key concerns is the possibility of reclassifying cases of femicide as homicide, potentially undermining investigations into the killing of women because they are women. The organisations call for strict safeguards, including reasoned decisions, comprehensive investigations and judicial review before any reclassification takes place.
They also stress that contextual analysis must be a mandatory part of investigations, rather than an optional measure. Understanding previous violence, power asymmetries and the broader context in which a killing occurs is essential to properly investigating femicide.
The organisations further warn that existing legal protections achieved through years of feminist advocacy must not be weakened or repealed through the proposed legislation.
Another fundamental concern is resources. The proposed law establishes significant new obligations for prosecutors, police and other institutions, but does not provide for the additional resources required to implement them effectively. A law without adequate resources cannot deliver justice.
The statement also calls for the meaningful participation of women’s organisations, survivors and families of victims in the mechanisms created by the law. Their expertise and experience must be recognised not only in awareness-raising, but also in decision-making and monitoring.
WoPAI stands with the organisations calling for legislation that strengthens prevention, investigation, prosecution, protection and reparation, while safeguarding the legal gains achieved through decades of feminist advocacy.
Justice for women and girls requires more than legislation: it requires effective implementation, adequate resources and the meaningful participation of women’s rights organisations.
WoPAI is proud to be one of the signatories of this statement.
