Mexico City, May 25.- In the midst of a "human rights crisis, a crisis of violence against women: femi
cides and disappearances," shelters for women victims of assault and their children are lacking resources due to "bureaucratic" processes and budget "haggling," denounced Wendy Figueroa, director of the National Shelter Network (RNR).
In an interview with La Jornada , the feminist psychologist reported that they have already gone "more than 80 days" without money to operate the 75 shelters and external centers, which could lead to the closure of these spaces.
After stating that this situation is "unacceptable," she said that this is apparently due to the fact that the spaces that house abused women and their children have been relocated this year to the Ministry of the Interior, specifically to the National Commission for the Prevention and Eradication of Violence against Women (Conavim).
He explained that they previously depended on the Ministry of Health, but since 2020 they were transferred to the Ministry of Welfare, specifically to the National Institute of Social Development, which was "disappeared, so now we depend on Conavim.
“The 2022 budget hasn't been released; the process has been delayed for more than 80 days, and we don't know why. We imagine it has to do with the transfer of shelters to Conavim. It's unacceptable that, in the face of femicide, the disappearance of girls, and gender-based assaults, bureaucratic processes continue to be prioritized. They're asking us for documents that weren't included in the guidelines, which are instructions from the legal department of the Ministry of the Interior. All of these are bureaucratic processes that violate the lives and safety of women and the law. It's a critical situation.”
She indicated that they have resorted to "borrowing" and some "donations," but warned that the situation cannot be sustained. Due to delays in payments to the professionals who collaborate with the RNR, some are already "resigning." Among the specialists are "psychologists, social workers, doctors, nurses, lawyers, accountants, and educators. All are paid a monthly salary, and they haven't been paid for two and a half months."
