On November 25, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the Jalisco government presented its Código Violeta (Violet Code) smartphone application, a tool that quickly alerts police to situations where women feel at risk of harassment, abuse or violence.
The state’s Code Violet protocol was introduced in 2020 to reinforce security for women through monitoring, follow-up and timely intervention. Women at risk are encouraged to call the 911 emergency number, quoting “Código Violeta” so that police officers specialized in gender violence can be rapidly deployed.
One of the chief aims of Code Violet’s complimentary new digital tool is to reduce response times to potential violent situations.
To configure the application, users will need to provide some information relating to their personal history, as well as their email and phone number. Once their profile is authenticated, the emergency button will be activated.
As soon as the Code Violet button is pressed (there is a three-second window to cancel the alert), monitoring officers will see the exact location of the person potentially at risk. The response should be immediate.
In addition to alerting police, the application allows the user to add up to two phone numbers as emergency contacts so that they too are aware of the request for help.
The app also provides an explanation of the steps required to file legal complaints, the rights of victims and the meaning of consent in a romantic relationship.
The Violet Code application is available for free in the Play Store and App Store.