Empowering women and girls in Mexican communities

Fondo Semillas is an organization that finances grassroots organizations, groups, and collectives working for gender equality in Mexico. Sadly, one of the issues that resonate most with the projects we fund is violence against women.

Mexico is a country in which violence against girls, young women, and women manifest itself in all social and cultural dimensions. By the end of 2019, 66.1% of women over the age of 15 (around 30.7 million) experienced violence in some way, mainly by family members or acquaintances[1]. Women with the highest propensity to violence by any aggressor throughout life are between 25 and 34 years old[2] and reside in urban areas (69.3%). In the case of girls and adolescents, six out of 10 have suffered violence from their fathers, mothers, caregivers, or teachers[3].

Against this backdrop, organizations need to strengthen their capacities to face this great challenge. Contributions from all of our donors help to co-finance these groups that work to reduce gender violence in different states of Mexico. The results of this work are reflected in various aspects of the lives of girls and women, who primarily increase their knowledge of their own rights and therefore recognize and act upon the violence they experience.

An example of this was the first assembly of Guanajuato’s Victoria Diez Human Rights Center feminist self-care school. This school was designed for women human rights defenders in an area where there is a high homicide rate. It has been attended by populations such as young women and trash collectors as well as a group of girls who participate in the Center’s activities. Some of the activities are for recreation, such as bike riding, sports, yoga, walks, and also undertakings for young women to learn more about feminism. The sum of activities helps them to recognize themselves as people who have and can exercise their rights.

Naxihi, an organization formed by women from various Mixtec communities in Oaxaca who migrated as day laborers to Baja California, assists women who have suffered from violence. They arrange and provide follow-up legal advice. They also offer social assistance (including food delivery) to indigenous women day laborers and offer translation services in their own language. Some of the women who have received support from Naxihi have become agents of change for others at the Casa de la Mujer Indígena[4], and more than 300 women who have suffered violence have participated in workshops to raise awareness of their rights.

Here, we share a testimony with you:

Nahixi: “Paula, an indigenous woman whose mother tongue is Mixteco, came to the San Quintín Valley with her partner and children due to her work situation and in search of better living conditions. She mentions that she has always experienced violence from her partner. One drunken afternoon, he threw her out of her home without allowing her to take her children, telling her that because she was a woman, she could not be responsible for them. Worried and without more knowledge, she went to the Public Prosecutor's Office and presented herself before Public Security to recover her children. It was very difficult; with her limited Spanish it was hard to explain her situation and she was not provided with an interpreter to support her, so her statement was taken as understood by the authorities. She asked for the social manager of her community for assistance, who channeled and accompanied her to the Indigenous Women’s House for aid and support.”

[1]  INEGI

[2] INEGI

[3] Red Nacional de Refugios

[4]Indigenous Women’s House (CAMI).