Mexico

NAP 1

2021-2025

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Introduction

This is Mexico’s first National Action Plan. Mexico has combined recommendations from UNSCR 1325 and CEDAW to produce a plan to increase women’s participation in the security sector.

Although not being involved in any international conflicts, Mexico has suffered a Drug War since 2006, leading to extreme violence within the nation. The Drug War has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths, catastrophic human rights abuses and increased militarisation and weapons dealings. The gendered implications have been fatal, resulting in extreme levels of femicide, sexual assault and abuse and domestic violence against women.

General Comments

Previous to this NAP, Mexico made commitments to improving gender within peacekeeping and the security sector in 2019. These commitments included deploying a more significant number of female recruits to UN peace missions and the creation of gender and WPS courses for military and police members organised by the Mexican Joint Training Centre for Peacekeeping Operations (CECOPAM). Within the Security Sector, Mexico committed to developing training on gender and human rights awareness for members of the armed forces.

The new NAP works alongside Mexico’s 2020 Feminist Foreign Policy to eliminate all forms of gender inequality and discrimination by promoting the participation and integration of women into the international security sector. To aid in this effort, Mexico engages with intergovernmental organisations that facilitate global gender alliances such as Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security and the Women, Peace and Security Focal Points Network.

Mexico makes a clear commitment to furthering both gendered aims and human rights promises during conflict and peacetime, focusing on the gender aspects of international security operations.

The responsibility for coordination and monitoring of Mexico’s NAP belongs to an Inter-Agency Group comprising of representatives from the National Defence, Security and Citizen Protection, the Secretariats of Foreign Affairs, Navy and the National Institute of Women.

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Key Points/Objectives

-       The NAP aims to improve communication and analysis on human rights and gender equality within the security sector whilst promoting women’s visibility and participation during peace processes.  

-       Using gender mainstreaming to highlight the essential roles of women as peacebuilders and agents of change from a local to a national level within security institutions.

     o   Increase police training in SGBV from a gendered and intercultural perspective

      o   Create 15 specialised police units focusing on the prevention, investigation and prosecution of violent crimes against women. This will be conducted through workshops and training materials.

      o   Increase training yearly for public officials on gender-responsive peace processes and women’s participation.

-       Increase women’s participation in meaningful positions within peace processes

      o   Strengthen pre-deployment training for women in security institutions and UN peace operations through courses at CECOPAM. Specifically through the creation of courses on gender and the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

       o   Actively recruit more women to senior leadership roles within the UN, military, police and civilian organisations.

-       Ensure women’s active representation at all levels within institutions and peace processes in uniform and civilian organisations.

      o   Promote the creation of female networks within national security institutions.

             §  Integrate 50 civilian women’s networks into the national strategy of “Women Builders of Peace and Security” every year.

             §  Increase communication between national and international agencies and institutions on the implementation of gender equality and mainstreaming practices.

      o   Train at least 60 uniformed women per year.

      o   Ensure the participation of two women in uniform at UN Women courses abroad.

      o   Ensure more than 15% of deployed personnel are women in uniform.

      o   Adhere to the United Nations guidelines on the percentage of women nominated and participating in the police force.

-       Using the Feminist Foreign Policy to increase women’s participation in peace and post-conflict situations with an emphasis on combatting violent extremism and advocating for arms control and disarmament.

-       Creating measures to ensure the security of women and girls, including sexual and reproductive rights, economic stability and the promotion of human rights

     o   Strengthen human rights and gender equality training for staff involved in peace operations, in particular, education on sexual and gender-based violence.

           - Create three annual courses on peace operations with a gender perspective at CECOPAM

          - Ensure eight women instructors within the Secretariat of Security and Citizen protection are trained per year.

           -   Promote the UN zero-tolerance policy for SEA violations through pre-deployment training to prevent sexual abuse violations by UN staff.

           -   Endorse women’s equal access and participation in the distribution of aid and humanitarian assistance whilst recognising the specific needs of women and girls.

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Statistical Analysis

-       7/17 Mexican Uniformed Personnel to the UN are female (41%).

-       Missions include: MINURSO, UNMOGIP and UNVMC

Sources

NAP and Introductory information: http://1325naps.peacewomen.org/index.php/mexico-nap/

PK Statistics: https://peacekeeping.un.org/sites/default/files/03-country_and_mission_37_apr2021.pdf

Flag Image : https://pixabay.com/vectors/mexico-flag-national-flag-nation-162359/