The Fight for Women's Safety Beyond CELIG
Mexico's landmark CELIG law aimed to protect women from violence. Yet, years later, femicide and abuse remain tragically common. Activists demand a deeper societal shift.
The year was 2007—a hopeful one for many in Mexico. February brought a landmark piece of legislation: the General Law on Women's Access to a Life Free of Violence (Ley General de Acceso de las Mujeres a una Vida Libre de Violencia, or LAMVLV). It shone a spotlight on the dark realities of gender-based violence in Mexico and promised a new era centered on women's security and autonomy. This, it seemed, was the first step on a bold path toward a more just and equitable society. That path, nearly two decades later, remains a treacherous one.
The LAMVLV's passage was a victory hard-won by tireless activists and advocates. For the first time, Mexico's laws explicitly acknowledged the different ways violence against women manifests itself – psychological, physical, economic, patrimonial, and sexual. It recognized that visible bruises weren't the only signs of abuse and suffering, a fact that often led to cases being minimized or overlooked.
