Breathe
By Gabriela Sotomayor
Geneva. Every 10 minutes a woman or girl is killed by a partner or family member. Only 87 countries have ever been led by a woman. In addition, digital technology and artificial intelligence spread harmful stereotypes, while the digital gender gap limits women's opportunities.
The recent UN Women report released in Geneva: Women's Rights under Review, 30 Years after Beijing. indicates that, despite the significant progress that has been made, by 2024 almost a quarter of governments around the world reported a setback in women's rights.
The paper highlights that the rights of women and girls face an unprecedented scenario of increasing threats. From higher levels of discrimination to weaker legal protections, and less funding for programs and institutions that support and protect women.
"Gender equality and women's empowerment face complex challenges, but we stand firm and move forward with ambition and determination. Women and girls are demanding change, and they deserve no less," said Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women.
In addition, the recent global crises, such as that of the COVID-19 the climate emergency and the escalation of fuel and food prices, only increase the urgency of the response.
"When women and girls get ahead, all people thrive. Yet women's human rights are under attack around the world," said UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
"Instead of seeing a mainstreaming of equal rights, what is being mainstreamed is misogyny. Together, we must stand firm to make human rights, equality and empowerment a reality for all women and girls, for all people, everywhere."
In the last decade, the world saw a 50 percent increase in the number of women and girls living in conflict environments, and women's rights defenders face harassment, personal attacks and even death every day.
Mexico is no stranger to this history. In 2024 around 179 activists were murdered for defending territory and civil rights especially those of women. In addition, 4 journalists have been murdered in the current government of Claudia Sheinbaum and 47, including three women, in the government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
We have already seen what the searching mothers have gone through and their desperation when they saw that the evidence they were waiting for at Rancho Izaguirre had disappeared. This is another piece of bad news because it was clear evidence of serious human rights violations such as extermination and forced disappearance. No shoes, no clothes, nothing. Is that why they invited the president to visit the camp of horror? To give them a slap in the face? That is perverse.
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