PROJECT
To promote access to justice for women survivors of digital violence in Mexico
OBJECTIVE
To develop analysis and recommendations on access to justice in cases of digital violence, providing them to various relevant actors, such as women, legislators, authorities and decision makers.
CONTEXT
For many years in Mexico, digital violence against women was not a priority for government institutions despite the high rates of attacks. However, in recent years, 28 of its states have approved reforms to their penal codes that prohibit the dissemination of intimate content without consent. These reforms face challenges in coordination, and especially in implementation, due primarily to a lack of capacity amongst the authorities.
Women experiencing digital violence in Mexico are doing their part, with more than 2,000 reports being filed over the past three years. The authorities are failing them: 83% of these investigations are still pending. Having laws in place has not been synonymous with justice.
Project achievements
Luchadoras carried out an investigation on the legislative reforms approved in Mexico related to the dissemination of intimate images without consent. The group then reconstructed a timeline of their adoption and, through the use of transparency tools, provided data on the number and status of open case files within the country. They also prepared proposals for alternative justice based on the testimony of victims, who placed great importance on reparation of the damage done.
How was this achieved?
• Carried out a historical legislative audit of the reforms approved over the last 8 years in 28 states of the country.
• Developed an interactive search engine tool to make the texts of these reforms accessible to the public and available as a resource for women interested in initiating a criminal complaint.
• Submitted requests for access to information in order to conclude the process of seeking justice in cases of digital violence, the findings of which highlighted serious obstacles in advancing such investigations.
• Held a meeting with women who had experienced digital violence to document their needs and expectations in terms of gaining access to justice.
• Published a report on the group’s findings, with recommendations for key actors on meeting the challenges of prevention, care and punishment in relation to digital violence.
• Counseled more than 400 women who experienced digital violence in Mexico.
• Developed training and cooperation agreements with public institutions to raise awareness about digital violence from a feminist perspective.
• Created a website aimed at women and young people that offers information on digital violence in Mexico as well as tools related to safe Internet practices.
