Spotlight Initiative strengthens the efforts in Ecatepec and Naucalpan

Spotlight Initiative started its programming activities in Mexico on 20 August 2019 with workshops gathering local public agents, representatives of the legislative and judicial powers, as well as members of civil society organizations and personnel of the United Nations and the European Union.

The workshops were an opportunity for the participants to learn more on the 6 pillars of the Initiative: legal framework and public policies, institutional strengthening, prevention and social norms, essential quality services, quality data, and strengthening women's movements.

“Workshops are so much more effective when they integrate civil society organizations. It allows municipal and state institutions to see how actions are being carried out to prevent violence against women. It gives us a cleared idea on what has worked, what could be improved, areas of opportunity and good practices," said Enma Obrador Garrido, women's rights activist and current member of Spotlight Initiative's Civil Society National Reference Group. 

The participants stressed that the Spotlight Initiative is an additional opportunity to eliminate violence against women and girls in their municipalities and to put an end to feminicides in a country where 9 women are killed every 24 hours.

“[Spotlight Initiative] is strengthening the work that is being done in Ecatepec and Naucalpan. As a legislator, it seems to me that it is vital to learn more on what the current needs are and what should be done in our legislation to help women and girls who experience violence”, said local deputy Karina Labastida, president of the Special Commission to End Violence and Feminicides.
 
“What I liked the most during this workshop is that everyone was fully committed. You could tell that all participants were there with the strong intention to change the situation for women and girls in Mexico,” said Diana Oropeza, head of the Missing People Search Cell of the municipality of Ecatepec.
 
Committement from the government 

Towards the end of the workshops, the State Governor renewed his committement to work with the Spotlight Initiative for the next 4 years.

“We are very pleased that Spotlight Initiative is being implemented in Mexico. It will address violence against women and girls through collaborative work between government, judicial and legislative forces, civil society, national and international organizations," said the State Governor, Alfredo del Mazo.

The municipal president of Ecatepec, Fernando Vilchis, and Naucalpan, Elisa Durán, also attended the event.

In Mexico, Spotlight Initiative has committed to invest 7.5 million dollars for the first phase of implementation (2019 and 2020) which will take place in five municipalities in three states of the country. In the next few days, similar workshops will take place in the other targeted states.

At the federal level, Spotlight Initiative also works in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SER), the Ministry of the Interior (SEGOB), the National Commission to Prevent and Eradicate Violence against Women (CONAVIM) and the National Women's Institute ( IMMUJERES).

The UN agencies responsible for implementing the Initiative in Mexico are: UN Women, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN DH and UNICEF.

By Eloisa Farrera