MEXICO CITY — More than a thousand women flooded the streets of Mexico City on Monday in a powerful demonstration marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. This march, the first feminist protest under President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration, highlighted the ongoing struggle against gender-based violence and systemic inequity in Mexico.

The 25N movement, named after the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25, has deep roots in Latin America. Born from the brutal murders of the Mirabal sisters in the Dominican Republic in 1960, it has evolved into a powerful force for change across the region. In Mexico, the movement gained significant momentum in the late 2010s as femicide rates soared and public outrage reached a boiling point.

As the crowd gathered at the Glorieta de las Mujeres que Luchan, a group of students from the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN) took center stage to highlight a modern facet of gender-based violence: digital abuse. Their rally centered on the case of Diego “N”, a former student accused of using artificial intelligence to alter and profit from intimate images of his classmates.

“We demand justice for our classmates, victims of a system that continues to objectify and exploit women, even in the digital realm,” declared an IPN student activist.

This case, prosecuted under the Olimpia Law, which criminalizes digital violence, underscores the evolving nature of the fight for women’s rights in Mexico. Olimpia Coral Melo, the activist behind the law, addressed the crowd, emphasizing the importance of combating digital violence alongside other forms of gender-based aggression.

As an estimated 1,500 participants moved towards the Zócalo, their voices rose in unified chants. “Ni una más, ni una más, ni una asesinada más” (Not one more, not one more, not one more of us killed) echoed through the streets, a poignant reminder of the women lost to femicide and disappearances.

María Hernández, a 32-year-old activist, declared with emotion, “We march today not just for ourselves, but for those who can no longer march with us. Each step we take is a step towards a Mexico free from violence against women.”

The significance of this protest stood out against a backdrop of escalating violence against women. Recent statistics paint a grim picture: an estimated 10 women are murdered every day in Mexico, with official data reporting 335 women and girls killed in May 2024 alone. In the first five months of this year, there were 1,425 femicide victims, averaging 65 women killed each week.

Despite a slight decline in femicide rates compared to previous years, the numbers remain alarmingly high, with 842 femicides registered from January to October.

As the march reached the Zócalo, family members of victims and political activists took to a podium to share their testimonies. Their powerful accounts denounced an inefficient and re-victimizing justice system that often fails to protect those most vulnerable.

Many participants echoed the sentiment that until structural causes of violence — rooted in a capitalist, patriarchal, and colonial matrix — are addressed, “we haven't all arrived.” This call for systemic change was underscored by demands for better labor policies and economic reforms that ensure autonomy for all women, particularly those in precarious sectors.

While there is a sense of hope surrounding President Sheinbaum’s leadership as Mexico’s first female president, many expressed skepticism about real change. “As long as disappearances are hidden and not investigated in time to find them, we haven’t all arrived,” one marcher said.

However, others remain optimistic, with one woman exclaiming, “Look at us! Look at what we have achieved; we have our first woman president. We must not stop here!” This mix of hope and caution reflects the complex emotions surrounding Sheinbaum’s historic presidency.

The peaceful nature of this protest was notable amid a history of confrontations during similar demonstrations. Yet underlying tensions remained palpable as many expressed discontent with government inaction.

As the day unfolded, the collective outcry for justice and systemic reform echoed through the streets, resonating with the hopes and fears of countless women across the nation. The November 25th march in Mexico City underscored a crucial reality: while improved policies are essential, the demand extends far beyond legislation. Protesters are calling for a fundamental societal shift where respect for women’s lives is intrinsic, not merely enforced by law.

As the crowd dispersed from the Zócalo, their message was clear: achieving true gender equality requires dismantling the structures that perpetuate inequality and violence. Ultimately, the march served as a reminder that while progress may be slow and fraught with challenges, the fight for women’s rights in Mexico will not wane.

Updated November 27, 2024, 1:00 PM EST