Sheinbaum recognizes the work of women in the Armed Forces on 8M

Mexico City.- Mexico's President, Claudia Sheinbaum, acknowledged on International Women's Day (8M) the inclusion of the female population in the Armed Forces as "a step towards equality" and highlighted the importance of naming women in history to "eradicate gender violence." "Your presence has enriched military life and Mexico, it has shown that equality does not mean replacing anyone but adding capabilities, talents and perspectives to build a stronger country, when a woman advances: we all advance," declared the president during the official act held at Campo Marte, in Mexico City. Facing hundreds of members of the Armed Forces, the Mexican ruler urged to continue building a country where "no woman has limits" and in which "equality is an everyday reality". "When we recognize the value of women in our history, in our present, and in our future, we are building a more just country," she expressed after having read the achievements of 24 Mexican women in history such as: Leona Vicario, Rita Cetina, Josefa Ortiz Téllez-Girón.

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Example of Mexican Girls

The president, in her role as supreme commander of the Armed Forces, also highlighted the pride that women "in uniform" represent this 8M, being "an example for girls, families and the nation." "Today, many Mexican girls see women piloting, directing units, participating in civil protection operations, supporting the population in natural disasters, and making strategic decisions, and those girls understand something very symbolic: they can do it too," she added. The head of the Executive emphasized that in her government, girls are being reminded of "everything they can be," from presidents to "serving in the Armed Forces of Mexico." For his part, the Secretary of National Defense, General Ricardo Trevilla Trejo, elaborated on the legacy of Mexican women in the Army, who began to join its ranks in 1934, and who currently number 42,600, of whom 7,000 have been integrated into the administration of Sheinbaum, who assumed office in October 2024. "In the present administration, a firm step forward has been taken by fully incorporating military women into all operational units where they exercise command and lead their troops equally," he emphasized. And he added that in this 2026 academic cycle, 1,560 women will graduate, which represents the highest number recorded in the history of the military education system. The Secretary of Women, Citlalli Hernández, also recalled that this is the moment in the country's history in which "more women are in the exercise of power" and celebrated that the spaces of the Armed Forces are no longer spaces dominated by men. "It was thought that strength, discipline, and decision-making under pressure were a thing only for men," he concluded. You can also read: Also, she listed the "actions that are transforming lives" within the framework of this Government, such as the delivery of the Women's Rights Booklet, the opening of Free Centers, "where women find free legal and psychological advice," and the operation of the Women's Helpline. This is the second time that Sheinbaum, Mexico's first female president, commemorates 8M, a day on which thousands of Mexican women also take to the streets to eradicate the violence that takes the lives of ten women a day in the country.