BC will have a Women's Secretariat: what will really change?

The Government Commission of the Baja California Congress approved Governor Marina del Pilar's initiative to create the Secretariat for Women. The new agency seeks to strengthen gender policies, but generates debate about its actual impact.

Mexicali, Baja California—The Baja California government structure is about to change. The State Congress's Committee on Government, Legislation, and Constitutional Affairs has unanimously approved the initiative submitted by Governor Marina del Pilar Avila Olmeda to create the Secretariat for Women.

This proposal, which will now go to the plenary session for a final vote, seeks to elevate the current Women's Institute (INMUJER) and transform it into a top-level secretariat, with greater powers and, presumably, a larger budget.

According to the initiative, the main objective is to strengthen public policies with a gender perspective and guarantee a life free from violence for women in Baja California.

To achieve this, the new secretariat will not only replace INMUJER (National Institute of Women), but will also absorb some of the functions currently performed by other agencies, such as the General Secretariat of Government and the Secretariat of Social Inclusion and Gender Equality (SISIGBC).

This implies a centralization of programs and strategies focused on:

• Prevention of gender violence.
• Prevention of teenage pregnancy.
• Promoting women's economic empowerment and autonomy.
• Guarantee of equal opportunities and the exercise of their rights.

The creation of the secretariat has generated a debate about its effectiveness.

• In favor: Those who support the measure argue that having a state secretariat gives gender issues greater political status, greater budget management capacity, and a stronger voice within the cabinet. They consider it a necessary step to more effectively address the serious problems of violence and inequality faced by women in the state.
• Doubts: On the other hand, some critics and civil society organizations question whether the change will be more than a simple bureaucratic adjustment. The concern is whether the new structure will actually translate into better results on the ground or if it will simply entail an increase in administrative costs.

Representative Juan Manuel Molina García, president of the committee, stated that the budget for the new secretariat will be determined once the elimination of INMUJER (Women's Institute) is finalized and the new organizational structure is designed. The success of this reform will depend on whether the new Secretariat for Women manages to go beyond its paperwork and generate tangible change in the lives of Baja Californian women.