Ley Federal para Prevenir y Eliminar la Discriminación y la Violencia Intrafamiliar
The Ley Federal para Prevenir y Eliminar la Discriminación y la Violencia Intrafamiliar (Federal Law to Prevent and Eliminate Discrimination and Domestic Violence) establishes the framework for preventing and addressing domestic violence in Mexico. The law defines domestic violence as physical, psychological, sexual, and economic violence within family relationships. It establishes the obligation of authorities to prevent, investigate, and punish domestic violence, and provides for protective measures for victims. The law complements the General Law on Women’s Access to a Life Free of Violence (2007).
Legal area: Gender and the law addresses legal protections against gender-based violence and discrimination.
Year enacted: 2007
Full text: https://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/htm/ley_federal_violencia_intrafamiliar.htm
Key Provisions
- Art. 2: Definition of domestic violence (violencia intrafamiliar)
- Art. 3: Types of violence (física, psicológica, sexual, económica)
- Art. 5: Obligation of authorities to prevent and address violence
- Art. 7-10: Protective measures for victims (medidas de protección)
- Art. 11-15: Investigation and prosecution of domestic violence
- Art. 16-20: Services for victims (atención y servicios para víctimas)
Significance
The Domestic Violence Law is part of Mexico’s comprehensive framework for addressing gender-based violence, which includes the General Law on Women’s Access to a Life Free of Violence and various state-level laws. The law’s recognition of multiple forms of domestic violence (including economic violence) has expanded protections for victims. However, enforcement remains a significant challenge, with high rates of domestic violence and underreporting of incidents.