As one of the countries that built the international human rights system, Mexico has a framework of institutions and public policies that seek inclusion for all and recognize the role of women as agents of change and development.

At the meeting of ambassadors and consuls (#REC2016), Foreign Secretary Ruiz Massieu said that "no country can do without the talent and energy of half of its population; no country trying to overcome its challenges can exclude more than 50 percent of its inhabitants from the decision-making process and deny them opportunities.”

She remarked that one of the priorities in 2016 would be to consolidate the gender agenda that the current administration began three years ago by institutionalizing gender policy in the National Development Plan, which has meant that more resources than ever have helped give Mexican women access to financing, justice, education and health services.

Mexico’s leadership in this area is not new: 40 years ago, Mexico City hosted the first World Conference on Women. However, in recent years, Mexico’s leadership has been strengthened by actions such as the creation of a national system of equality between women and men and a constitutional amendment that ensures gender parity in the nomination of legislative candidates. Today, 42% of the federal deputies are women.

In the Foreign Ministry, in addition to following up on Mexico’s international commitments, policies have been designed and implemented that range from providing a space for breastfeeding to nominating the best women ministers of the Mexican Foreign Service for what is expected to be 50% of the ambassadorial appointments made by President Peña Nieto.