17th April 2026

Mexico – CEDAW submission on sexual violence, access to justice, and gender budget cuts

Aliadas por la Igualdad y la No Violencia, a coalition including Equality Now, CEJIL, Equis Justicia para las Mujeres and others, submitted an alternative report to the CEDAW Committee ahead of its 91st session. The submission documents persistent barriers to justice for survivors of sexual violence in Mexico and the impact of budget cuts on gender equality policies. It also highlights gaps in legal frameworks, particularly the lack of consent-based definitions of sexual violence.

What’s included in the submission?

  • Analysis of budget cuts and their impact on gender equality and violence prevention programs
  • Documentation of barriers to justice for survivors of sexual violence
  • Review of legal frameworks, including the lack of consent-based definitions of sexual violence

Who’s this submission for?

  • Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
  • Law and policymakers
  • Legal professionals
  • Government institutions

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Key recommendations

  • Restore and increase funding for gender equality and violence prevention programs
  • Reform criminal laws to centre sexual violence definitions on consent
  • Strengthen access to justice through survivor-centred, gender-sensitive procedures
  • Ensure effective implementation and monitoring of protocols on sexual violence

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