- The authorities signed the document in the context of International Women’s Day.
- Now it is established that the internal regulations must contain language of equality and free of violence.
- National Survey on the Dynamics of Household Relationships (ENDIREH) 2021 reveals that 28% of women have suffered workplace violence.
The Ministry of Health, through the National Institutes of Health and High Specialty Hospitals and the National Institute for Women (Inmujeres), signed the Statement Zero Tolerance for Sexual Harassment and Sexual Harassment. This seeks to guarantee the right of all women to a life free of violence.
In this context, the authorities of institutes and hospitals will review that the internal regulations contain a gender perspective. In addition, they establish sanctions for any type of violence against women.
Administrative and criminal sanctions for those responsible for committing sexual harassment
During the ceremony for the signing of the document, the holder of the Coordinating Commission of the National Institutes of Health and High Specialty Hospitals (CCINSHAE), Gustavo Reyes Terán, spoke out for strengthening actions that discourage gender violence. He also asked that the legal accompaniment be strengthened to guarantee that administrative and criminal sanctions are executed.
before the president of the National Institute for Women (Inmujeres), Nadine Gasman Zylbermann, the head of the CCINSHAE thanked the contributions of that body to review and establish the guidelines that allow closing the gap of inequalities by sex. She also ratified the commitment of the Ministry of Health of promote a healthy environment in all areas of institutes and hospitals.
She pointed out violence against women as a problem that requires urgent attention because it opens the way to inequalities, direct aggression and the abuse of male power. He highlighted the need to recognize that the same society that condemns violence against women and femicides maintains conditions of dominance of one sex over the other.
The president of Inmujeres, Nadine Gasman, said that through the pronouncement of zero tolerance for sexual harassment and sexual harassment in health institutes and highly specialized hospitals a solid and coordinated message is sent for the right of women to live a life free of violence, with environments of peace and security in conditions of equality and justice.
The reality of workplace violence in Mexico
The National Survey on the Dynamics of Household Relationships (Endireh) 2021 shows that 28 percent of women suffered workplace violence. Of this total, 34 percent came from colleagues, 22 percent from their boss or employer, and 11 percent from a superior and/or coordinator.
Nadine Gasman Zylbermann explained that there are three institutional factors that encourage these behaviors to exist in medical education and practices. The rigid hierarchical structure, the work environment dominated by men and a work climate that tolerates transgressions when those who exercise it have power.
“Any act of sexual harassment or sexual harassment is unacceptable. This message is forceful because it informs us that these actions should not go unpunished or continue to be naturalized”.
He stated that the pronouncement is a mechanism that protects the integrity and dignity of workers and users of services, and prevents sexual harassment from continuing to occur.
The general director of the Coordination of the National Institutes of Health, Carla del Carmen Toledo Salinas, announced that, during the following months, they will review that the internal regulations contain a gender perspective and establish the pertinent sanctions. In addition, misogynistic rules rooted in structural machismo will be removed.
Also read:
Dermatologists, the specialists who suffer the most from sexual harassment by patients
How should you act when faced with an attempt at sexual harassment by a patient?
How to prevent sexual harassment in your doctor’s office
