**Baja California’s Gender Violence Alert Sees 54% Progress**
In Baja California, significant strides are being made in combating gender violence, with current progress reaching 54% as reported by Elena Anguiano Rentería, the director for the Eradication of Violence against Women from the State’s General Government Secretariat. This was disclosed during a presentation to the local Congress’s Commission on Governance Legislation and Constitutional Points. A system of indicators is set to be implemented to monitor and measure the progress of the Gender Violence Alert System (AVGM).
The AVGM was declared in June 2021 by the Secretariat of Governance and the National Commission for Preventing and Eradicating Violence Against Women. Despite being in place since 2015, none of the 22 Mexican states with the alert had it lifted as state compliance is ongoing and progressive. Baja California ranks fourth nationally in its efforts to address issues highlighted by the alert. By the end of the current state administration, officials project an overall progress of 85%.
Secretary General of Government, Alfredo Álvarez Cardenas, emphasized restructuring administrative areas to ensure a focused approach on monitoring and achieving the AVGM’s goals.
**Additional Developments in Gender Violence Initiatives**
Alongside this progress, Baja California plans to introduce two specialized courtrooms in Tijuana dedicated to handling cases of family violence against women, providing a more concentrated judicial response to these critical issues.
Further efforts to enhance women’s safety include the introduction of the “Purple Button”, a digital tool aimed at providing immediate assistance to those at risk, which has been downloaded by over 621 women as of October.
The government remains committed to its gender violence initiatives, recognizing their evolving nature and the necessity for continual assessment over time. These efforts underscore the regional commitment to creating safer environments for women and striving for higher compliance and effectiveness in eradicating gender-based violence.