Claudia Sheinbaum Harassment Incident Highlights Violence Against Women in Mexico
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum was harassed on Tuesday afternoon while walking through the center of Mexico City. An unknown man approached her, attempted to kiss her, and touched her breast in front of onlookers and her security team, which reacted slowly.
The incident ended only when Juan José Ramírez Mendoza, head of the General Directorate of Aides-de-Camp, intervened by stepping between the president and the aggressor. The event was recorded on mobile phones by bystanders.
The delayed response of Sheinbaum’s team—who continue to operate without a formal Presidential Guard, as she and her predecessor Andrés Manuel López Obrador preferred—has renewed criticism over the adequacy of presidential security. The discussion arises amid national concern following the recent assassination of Carlos Manzo, the mayor of Uruapan, Michoacán, during a public event.
Everyday Reality for Women in Mexico
The assault against President Sheinbaum underscores a widespread pattern of gender-based harassment throughout the country. Women from all backgrounds face similar dangers daily.
According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), 45% of women in Mexico have been victims of street harassment.
This statistic highlights the urgent need for stronger protection measures and cultural change to ensure women’s safety in public spaces.
Author’s Summary
The incident involving President Sheinbaum reveals deep concerns about women’s safety and insufficient security even at the highest levels of Mexican society.