Mexico's President Sheinbaum Calls for Stronger Sexual Harassment Laws
President Claudia Sheinbaum was attacked while greeting supporters near the presidential palace in Mexico City on Tuesday. A drunken man approached and groped her, highlighting the serious issue of women's safety in Mexico.
Details of the Incident
Sheinbaum, 63, was walking to a public event when the man put his arm around her shoulder and touched her hip and chest with the other hand, while attempting to kiss her neck. A member of her security team quickly intervened and removed the attacker.
"This person approached, completely intoxicated (...) it wasn't until I saw the videos later that I realized what had really happened," Sheinbaum said on Wednesday.
Legal and Political Response
Following the assault, Sheinbaum urged that sexual harassment be criminalized throughout Mexico. Currently, harassment is a punishable offense only in Mexico City and about 20 states.
The attacker was arrested, and the president’s office confirmed to Agence France-Presse (AFP) that he has been charged with "harassment."
Significance
Sheinbaum is Mexico's first female president, and this attack has drawn national attention to the dangers women face and the need for legal reform.
Author's Summary
President Sheinbaum's public assault exposes severe gaps in Mexico's laws on sexual harassment, sparking a call for nationwide criminalization of such offenses.