Mexico gender equality is elusive despite progress

Subject

Women in politics.

Significance

With eight women nominated to the 17-minister cabinet of President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO), the incoming National Regeneration Movement (Morena) administration will be Mexico’s most gender balanced ever. Similarly, both chambers of the federal Congress formally established on August 29 have achieved near-gender parity. States and municipalities across the country saw the share of female politicians increase significantly in the July 1 elections.

Impacts

• Gender equality will not be achievable until all states issue laws that define and penalise political violence against women.
• Efforts to end all forms of political gender violence -- physical, psychological, sexual and economic -- will be required.
• Indigenous women, facing racial and gender discrimination, will struggle to increase their participation in politics.