Feminist Group Criticizes Government’s Child Safety Campaign

The Quintanarroense Feminist Network has criticized the recent "Children are not broken" campaign launched by the State Government. The group contends that the campaign's underlying message suggests a concerning abdication of the state's obligation to combat violence, insecurity, and organized crime in Quintana Roo.

The activists argue that the campaign, rather than reinforcing the government's commitment to the safety of children, appears to transfer the responsibility onto families. This is happening in a context where public institutions have failed to ensure safe environments. The Network argues that the campaign's implicit message is that the state is powerless to combat crime.

The campaign has also drawn criticism for its perceived trivialization of the drug trafficking issue. The Feminist Network sarcastically asks, "Can addictions be heard?", pointing out the campaign's lack of coherence and failure to offer tangible solutions to the escalating presence of organized crime in the region. They question whether the fight against cartels has been abandoned, given the perceived focus on rhetoric over action.

The Network also raises concerns about the campaign's disconnect with the working reality of many families. They question how parents are expected to assume this new responsibility when they are working all day. The criticism is particularly directed at women who, in addition to caring for their children, face precarious work conditions and long hours without access to childcare services, especially following the closure of daycare centers by the federal government. The Network also notes that it is primarily women who shoulder the responsibility of home protection in a country where absent fathers and lack of government support exacerbate the situation. They argue that the campaign overlooks this context of inequality and vulnerability.

The Network emphasizes that it's not just about "listening or hugging" children, but about providing them with safe environments. They warn that it's insufficient to be present if external dangers like stray bullets, human trafficking, and untreated mental health issues persist.

The extreme violence experienced in Quintana Roo, particularly against women, makes the campaign's tone even more problematic, according to the Network. They note that girls and women of all ages are exposed to crimes such as trafficking, femicide, and sexual abuse, regardless of whether they are "listened to at home or not". They argue that it is the state's failure to protect them that is the real issue. The Network sees this campaign as a dangerous normalization of violence, covering up government inaction with emotive but empty phrases. They call on the public not to let the official narrative transform what should be effective public policy into individual obligation. They warn that the right to security is non-negotiable and non-delegable, and it is the state's duty to guarantee it.