State of Mexico approves Mariana Lima Buendía Law

The Congress of the State of Mexico has unanimously approved the ‘Mariana Lima Buendía Law,’ a legislative reform aimed at strengthening the investigation of violent deaths of women and girls through a gender perspective.

The law establishes sanctions for public servants who, due to gender-related reasons, commit omissions, negligence, or corruption, or who obstruct access to justice. Penalties include four to 10 years of imprisonment, fines, and removal from office. This legislation follows a long legal battle initiated by Irinea Buendía Cortés after the 2010 murder of her daughter, Mariana Lima Buendía, which was initially misclassified as a suicide.

Irinea Buendía Cortés praised the legislature for becoming a national pioneer in addressing the denial of justice. She emphasized that the reform seeks to prevent other families from having to navigate an exhaustive and flawed legal system to achieve accountability. Advocates have called on Governor Delfina Gómez to ensure the law is effectively implemented through institutional support, budget allocation, and specialized training for police, prosecutors, and judicial officials.