Mexico made history on June 3, 2024, as it elected its first female president, Claudia Sheinbaum. Sheinbaum's victory marks a significant milestone for Mexico and women's rights in the country.
Sheinbaum grew up in a family deeply engaged in activism and volunteered to assist groups of mothers searching for their missing children at the age of 15. She earned her PhD in energy engineering at the age of 33 and started her political journey in 2000 when Lopez Obrador selected her to serve as the leader of his environmental team.
Sheinbaum's campaign promises include continuing AMLO's strategy of avoiding confrontation with crime groups while relying on the National Guard for security operations. Mexico has seen more than 30,000 murders a year and some 100,00 people are still unaccounted for.
During her campaign, Sheinbaum faced questions over her close ties to AMLO. However, she is expected to continue his policies on economic inequality and providing a sturdy social safety net.
Sheinbaum's victory comes after years of lobbying by female politicians and activists for quotas for female candidates. Mexico passed a sweeping constitutional amendment establishing parity in everything - candidacies for all elected offices, and top jobs in the executive and judicial branches.
The United States, which is known for its gender parity in government, still lags behind Mexico with only 25% of women holding seats in Congress. Sheinbaum's election marks a significant step forward for women's rights not just in Mexico but around the world.