Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum has said she will press charges against a man who groped her during a public appearance. Mobile phone footage of the incident on Tuesday shows Sheinbaum speaking to a group of supporters on a street near the National Palace in Mexico City. In the video, a man approaches her from behind and attempts to kiss her on the neck and place his hands on her body. Sheinbaum moved away quickly, and a member of her team stepped in, but she was visibly shaken. The offender has been arrested.
'My view is, if I don't file a complaint, what will happen to other Mexican women? If they do this to the president, what will happen to all women in our country? Sheinbaum said at a news conference on Wednesday. I decided to press charges because this is something that I experienced as a woman, but that we as women experience in our country, she added, recalling past experiences of harassment.
Sheinbaum highlighted that the aggressor had allegedly harassed other women in the crowd and emphasized that 'a line must be drawn.' Women's rights groups have pointed out that the incident reflects the deep-seated machismo in Mexican society, where men often feel entitled to accost women, regardless of status.
The issue of femicide remains prevalent in Mexico, with about 98% of gender-based murders reportedly going unpunished. While Sheinbaum has expressed a commitment to addressing these concerns during her presidency, significant challenges remain, especially in improving security and tackling violent crime.
This incident also raises discussions about the security of public figures in Mexico, coming shortly after the murder of a local mayor. Despite the risks, Sheinbaum spoke of her determination to maintain direct interactions with citizens, affirming her commitment to being accessible to the public.
'My view is, if I don't file a complaint, what will happen to other Mexican women? If they do this to the president, what will happen to all women in our country? Sheinbaum said at a news conference on Wednesday. I decided to press charges because this is something that I experienced as a woman, but that we as women experience in our country, she added, recalling past experiences of harassment.
Sheinbaum highlighted that the aggressor had allegedly harassed other women in the crowd and emphasized that 'a line must be drawn.' Women's rights groups have pointed out that the incident reflects the deep-seated machismo in Mexican society, where men often feel entitled to accost women, regardless of status.
The issue of femicide remains prevalent in Mexico, with about 98% of gender-based murders reportedly going unpunished. While Sheinbaum has expressed a commitment to addressing these concerns during her presidency, significant challenges remain, especially in improving security and tackling violent crime.
This incident also raises discussions about the security of public figures in Mexico, coming shortly after the murder of a local mayor. Despite the risks, Sheinbaum spoke of her determination to maintain direct interactions with citizens, affirming her commitment to being accessible to the public.
