- From the age of 12, women have the right to safe abortion services without the need to file a complaint.
- 70.1% of Mexican women over the age of 15 have suffered some type of violence at some time in their lives.
- Every November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls is commemorated.
Scientific evidence shows that the effects and damages of the types of violence against girls, adolescents and women in different areas, they frequently impact the different spheres of people’s lives and their community, beyond the damage to health.
In this context, the Ministry of Health (SSa), through the National Center for Gender Equity and Reproductive Health (CNEGSR) joins the actions for the elimination of violence against women, adolescents and girls, through the global campaign of UN Women: 16 days of activism against gender violence.
A more common problem than some think
In Mexico, data from the National Survey on the Dynamics of Household Relationships (Endireh) of 2021 from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi), indicate that 70.1 percent of the interviewed women aged 15 years and over suffered some type of violence at some time in their lives. Likewise, in the last year of the survey, one in three reported having faced psychological violence and one in five suffered sexual violence.
The survey reports that 27.7 percent did not request support or did not report physical and/or sexual assaults from their current or last partner because they did not consider it important. While 22.2 percent did not do so for fear of the consequences.
In the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls, which is commemorated on November 25, the CNEGSR specifies that during the 16 days of activism, actions are strengthened that guarantee access of women and girls to first contact, basic and specialized care in the 32 federal entities, where they are provided free medical and psycho-emotional health services.
legal support
In accordance with the provisions of the Official Mexican Standard NOM-046-SSA2-2005sexually assaulted persons should receive care within the first 72 hours after the attack, with the aim of avoiding sexually transmitted infections, including the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and up to 120 hours after the rape, for the prescription of emergency contraception pills, or seven days to insert an intrauterine device and prevent an unwanted pregnancy.
Women who could not prevent pregnancy as a result of rape, from the age of 12 and under national legal protection, have the right to receive safe abortion services through the voluntary interruption of pregnancy without the need for file a complaint.
Also, with the user’s consent, whenever possible, health services should record medical evidence of the rape. It is important that girls under 12 years of age are accompanied by their mother, father or guardian to consent to access this service, with absolute respect for their rights.
It should be noted that the Official Mexican Standard NOM-046-SSA2-2005 is mandatory for the institutions of the National Health System, for service providers in the public, social and private sectors, and non-compliance is cause for criminal, civil or administrative.
Violence against women is a public health problem with consequences that can be immediate and acute, long-lasting and chronic, or even fatal; mainly, when more than one type of violence is suffered or repeated episodes throughout life.
Also read:
Violence in Mexico: Medical Interns Work at Gunpoint
Global scandal over the case of obstetric violence: What should NEVER be done
This is how you should care for patients with signs of sexual or family violence