Feminist groups are expected to take to Guadalajara’s streets on Tuesday, March 8, International Women’s Day.
Several NGOs have vowed to participate in a march highlighting the increase in violence against women, which has shot up significantly during the three years of the current state administration.
After marching from the Niños Heroes Glorieta to the city center, the women will erect an “anti-monument” in the plaza facing the Jalisco Government Palace. A heavy police presence is anticipated, as protests in previous years have seen sporadic episodes of vandalism and violence.
In a shrewdly-timed move earlier this week, the Jalisco government launched a new US$10 million initiative to tackle gender-based violence in the state, which aims to assuage the growing indignation at the perceived inaction by authorities. According to the state government, the new strategy will expand institutional infrastructure, strengthen the monitoring of victims of violence and the legal framework surrounding cases, and increase the operational capacity to investigate abuses, as well as expand research and analysis on the issue.
State authorities acknowledge that complaints of family violence increased by 41 percent from 2018 to 2021. Meanwhile, reports of rape have increased by 40 percent and child sexual abuse by 11 percent. During 2022 there have been six murders of women classified as femicide.
Prominent Guadalajara buildings will be bathed in purple light in recognition of International Women’s Day.