Mexico’s first female president, Claudia Sheinbaum, has announced sweeping reforms to strengthen sexual harassment laws and improve justice for victims — just days after she was publicly groped by a man during a walk through Mexico City.
The 63-year-old president, who made history as Mexico’s first woman to hold the country’s highest office, was assaulted on Tuesday by a drunken man while greeting supporters in the capital. The incident sparked widespread outrage, reigniting debates about women’s safety and gender-based violence in Latin America.
Sheinbaum has since filed charges of sexual harassment against her attacker, a criminal offense in Mexico City that covers lewd acts and groping. Speaking at her morning press conference on Thursday, she vowed to turn her personal experience into a catalyst for legal reform and greater protection for women.
“May what happened serve as a reminder that women must never feel alone in situations of harassment or abuse,” Sheinbaum said. “For this to happen, we need institutions and a government that truly support them.”
The president also ordered a comprehensive review of Mexico’s 32 state laws on sexual harassment and abuse, citing inconsistencies that often hinder justice.
Sexual harassment in public spaces is so widespread in Mexico that authorities have introduced women-only carriages on public transport, a measure also seen in cities like Mumbai and Rio de Janeiro.
According to the United Nations, around 70% of Mexican women and girls aged 15 and above have experienced at least one incident of sexual harassment, while 45% report being victims of sexual abuse.
The assault on Sheinbaum occurred when a man placed his arm around her shoulder, touched her hip and chest, and attempted to kiss her neck before being restrained by her security team.
In her remarks, Sheinbaum stressed the need for a faster and more effective system for victims to report abuse.
“We must build an efficient and quick reporting system that truly delivers justice,” she said, without providing specific details of the planned reforms.
Citlalli Hernández, Mexico’s Secretary for Women, disclosed that over 25,000 cases of sexual harassment have been reported so far this year — though experts believe the real number is far higher due to underreporting and fear of victim-blaming.
The assault has also drawn attention to the president’s hands-on leadership style and her decision to maintain minimal personal security, despite the country’s history of violence against public officials.
“We need to stay close to the people,” Sheinbaum reaffirmed, brushing off calls for increased protection.
- As Mexico confronts a national reckoning over gender-based violence, Sheinbaum’s response has been praised by women’s rights groups as a powerful statement of resilience and accountability from the highest office in the land.
— Hobnob News
