Violence against women and girls: EU and UN launch the Spotlight Initiative in Mexico

The Spotlight Initiative country programme was launched in Mexico City by the European Union and the United Nations, with the support of the Mexican President, Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

The Spotlight Initiative is a global, multi-year partnership between the European Union and the United Nations to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, worth €500 million.

In Mexico, this initiative will strengthen federal, state, and municipal efforts as well as civil society organisations to prevent and eliminate femicide in the country.

Mexico is the third country in Latin America to launch the Spotlight initiative. It has come about thanks to joint efforts from the UN, the EU and the Mexican Government. The initiative will operate in three provinces with high femicide rates (State of Mexico, Chihuahua, and Guerrero). The EU will be contributing an initial €6 million to the overall Spotlight investment in Mexico for the 1st phase, which is expected to be in the order of €7 million in total.

Together with all national and local actors, the EU and UN will specifically focus on planning and designing public spaces in which women and girls not only are but also feel, safe and secure. In addition, Spotlight will work on facilitating the access of those women to more and better support and protection services; ensuring access to justice without discrimination and in conditions of freedom and security. Finally, the Spotlight Initiative aims to fundamentally change the perception of women within their families and in society.

In Mexico, the programme will last 4 years and will be implemented by six UN agencies in close coordination with the Mexican Government, State and Local Governments, civil society organisations and the European Union.

Original source: European Commission
Published on 29 May 2019