Mexico City: 4,000 Women Rally for 8M, Demand Equality & Rights
Mexico City Prepares for International Women’s Day March, Supports Protesters’ Rights
Mexico City is bracing for a large-scale International Women’s Day march on , with the city government pledging support for the demonstrators and their cause. Head of Government Clara Brugada Molina affirmed the city’s commitment to the struggle for women’s rights, stating the government shares the ideals of the marchers and works daily towards equality.
Approximately 4,000 women participated in a demonstration in the capital’s Zócalo, forming the message “Always Alive, Free and Equal #8M” as a powerful display of solidarity and a commitment to continuing the fight for women’s rights. Brugada Molina emphasized that the city’s central square will be open to welcome the thousands of protesters expected to participate in Sunday’s mobilization.
Brugada Molina stressed the importance of March 8 not as a day for celebration, but as a day of struggle, remembrance, commemoration, and demand. She urged continued evaluation of the progress needed to secure further rights for women in society.
The Head of Government highlighted a historic shift in Mexican politics, noting that the country now has its first female president. She described this as a “profound and epochal change,” reinforcing the sentiment that “it is time for women.” She also positioned Mexico City as a center for feminist thought, rights, and freedoms, and a key participant in the broader women’s liberation movement.
Brugada Molina detailed several initiatives undertaken by her administration to advance women’s rights, including the proposed Law of the Public Care System of Mexico City, which aims to establish the first Public Care System in the country. This system seeks to recognize, redistribute, and reduce care work, which disproportionately falls on women. Other initiatives include the construction of 200 Houses of the 3R’s (Reparation, Reconciliation, and Transformation) and 300 Child Care and Development Centers by 2030.
The city is also working towards the eradication of the sexual division of labor, a key goal of the current administration. Various social programs are in place to support women, including Caregiving Women, Healthy Women, and Protected Childhoods, as well as the Desde la Cuna program. The city has also constructed 334 kilometers of Free and Safe Women’s Roads and activated a Gender Alert with 14 specific actions.
Brugada Molina reported a 35 percent reduction in femicide in Mexico City over the past year, with arrest warrants issued for 95 percent of those responsible. She issued a firm warning to anyone who would act against women, stating, “Let those who dare to act against women know that in this city they will respond.”
Legislative reforms have been enacted to strengthen the fight against violence against women, including increased penalties for femicide, family violence, sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and digital sexual harassment. The administration is also focused on preventing deaths from breast and cervical cancer in Mexico City.
The demonstration in the Zócalo saw thousands of women raising purple and white umbrellas to form the message “Always Alive, Free and Equal.” The march on is expected to draw large crowds, with participants demanding justice, equality, and an end to gender-based violence.