Human rights of women

For ProDesc, an indispensable aspect of respect and compliance of human rights in Mexico is the assurance of a life free from violence for women. It is also a definitive element for real social justice. For this reason, we consider the explicit recognition of the rights of women, inside a regulatory body, as an important and meaningful goal. Nonetheless, the alternative for women in the meantime is training on the different possibilities to demand their rights within the legal system.

Campaign for the Rights of Women in the State of Guerrero

Part of our workload includes, along with integrated defense, the training and investigation of human rights violations. For this reason we decided to participate in the Campaign for the Rights of Women in the state of Guerrero in three levels:

  1. The legal defense of several cases involving the violation of women’s rights
  2. Legislative research and,
  3. Training on the theme of women’s rights in various forums.

Several investigations of an alarming number of feminicides in the north of the country have revealed the necessity to deepen the understanding of gender violence, its causes, and social consequences. Considering the multiple human rights violations committed, particularly in Guerrero, several human rights organizations have decided to work on this theme by forming this Campaign for the Rights of Women. An important part of these activities includes the elaboration of legislative research comparing the situation of prosecution and administration of justice in cases involving violence against women.

Gas Station Workers

During 2007, Prodesc worked with workers in gas stations who are members of the Union for Commercial and Office Workers and Similar Vocations (STRACC-for it’s Spanish acronym). Prodesc observed various violations of women’s rights. For example, women often worked long shifts at the gasoline stations and then came home to cook and take care of their children, essentially working double time each day. ProDesc produced small booklets outlining the labor rights of women workers in the gasoline stations which will be used in further organizing efforts by the union. ProDesc will continue to work with the Union to investigate the possibility of strategic industry-wide litigation regarding the denial of womens’ rights in the workplace.