Claudia Sheinbaum Harassment Incident Highlights Violence Against Women in Mexico
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum experienced a serious harassment incident on Tuesday afternoon while walking through the center of Mexico City. A man suddenly approached her, attempted to kiss her, and touched her breast as onlookers watched in shock.
The situation escalated until Juan José Ramírez Mendoza, head of the General Directorate of Aides-de-Camp, intervened to protect the president and separate her from the aggressor.
Witnesses captured the event on mobile phones, showing a slow reaction from the president’s security team. The issue has renewed scrutiny over the absence of a formal Presidential Guard — a decision Sheinbaum, like former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador, has defended.
This incident occurs amid heightened concerns for public officials' safety in Mexico, following the recent assassination of Uruapan mayor Carlos Manzo at a public event.
Broader Issue of Violence Against Women
According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), 45% of women in Mexico have been victims of street harassment.
Sheinbaum’s experience echoes what many women across Mexico face daily, reflecting pervasive violence and insufficient public protection.
Author’s Summary
The assault on President Sheinbaum exposes Mexico’s ongoing crisis of gender-based violence and questions the adequacy of official security arrangements.