Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has publicly condemned and filed a formal complaint against a man who sexually assaulted her in public, turning a personal violation into a national conversation about women’s safety in Mexico. The incident, which was captured on video and widely circulated online, has ignited renewed debate about machismo culture, gender-based violence, and the gaps in Mexico’s legal protections for women.
The assault occurred in Mexico City’s historic centre on Tuesday, when Sheinbaum was walking from the National Palace to the Ministry of Education, greeting members of the public. Video footage showed a middle-aged man approaching her, placing his arm around her shoulders, and groping her chest before attempting to kiss her. The president immediately pushed him away, and her staff quickly intervened. Her security team was not in close proximity at the time of the incident. Later, authorities confirmed that the man—reportedly intoxicated—had been arrested.
Speaking to the press the following day, Sheinbaum described the incident as symptomatic of the daily dangers women face in Mexico. “If this happens to the president, where does that leave all the young women in our country?” she asked. “No man has the right to invade or abuse a woman’s personal space,” Sheinbaum said. The episode had compelled her to take action not only for herself but for all Mexican women subjected to similar experiences.
In response, Sheinbaum called on the federal Women’s Ministry to review and strengthen existing sexual harassment laws. She argued that such offences should carry clear criminal penalties across all Mexican states. “It must be denounced, it must be named, because it’s an act of violence,” she said, noting that sexual harassment is currently treated as a crime in only about half of the country’s states.
The president also directed criticism toward the newspaper Reforma for publishing images of the assault, calling the move an unethical act of re-victimisation. “The use of that image is also a crime. It crosses an ethical line,” she said, demanding a public apology from the publication. Mexico’s digital violence laws, she added, prohibit the reproduction of images that perpetuate harm or humiliation against victims of gender-based violence.
The Women’s Ministry issued a statement supporting Sheinbaum’s position, urging media outlets to uphold ethical standards and avoid disseminating content that violates the dignity or privacy of victims. The ministry also reiterated its call for victims to report sexual violence without fear of stigma or reprisal.
The incident has reignited Mexico’s long-running debate on women’s safety, a deeply rooted issue in a country with one of the highest rates of femicide in Latin America. Official data recorded 821 femicides in 2024 and at least 501 cases through September 2025, though activists argue that the true numbers are likely much higher due to widespread underreporting and misclassification.
Feminist organisations and women’s rights advocates condemned the assault and expressed solidarity with Sheinbaum, while also using the moment to press for broader accountability. Some groups criticised her administration for failing to strengthen investigations and prosecutions in cases of gender-based violence. Others viewed her decision to publicly file a complaint as a turning point, symbolically placing women’s security at the forefront of Mexico’s national discourse.
The incident has underscored the paradox of women in power facing the same threats as ordinary citizens, a stark reminder that gender-based violence transcends social status. For many Mexicans, Sheinbaum’s experience—and her public response—has become both a reflection of persistent societal dangers and a rallying point for legal and cultural change.
