“Urgent Call: Women Demand Childcare in Courts”

The Xtabay Women's Collective has called for the establishment of childcare facilities in all courts within the Quintana Roo Judiciary. This would provide a safe space for children while their mothers attend hearings or review case files.

The demand was made in a video by a member of the collective at the Playa del Carmen court. She had brought her children along while reviewing her family case file.

She pointed out the lack of a playroom in the family court, contrasting it with the imminent opening of a Starbucks nearby that does have such facilities.

"I've been here with my two babies for two hours. We were notified of a new hearing, but I keep thinking about how I've brought my two babies here. I'm a single mom who often comes here alone. I have a child with a disability. There's a Starbucks opening soon, but there are no playrooms or child-friendly spaces here. My little one wanted to sit down, but it's not possible," the woman shared.

The collective amplified this woman's plea, emphasizing the importance of childcare centers in courts for the children of women involved in legal proceedings.

"Children's needs come first. They have the right to legal security and due process in any jurisdictional or administrative procedure they're involved in. They also have the right to participate in any process involving them, to have a dignified space like a childcare center to spend time or wait for their mother, and to be informed and have privacy," the collective stated.

The group also asserted that the Judiciary, both federally and at the state level, has a significant responsibility to address this issue.

"We cannot fully guarantee the rights of children and teenagers in Mexico without the committed and sustained efforts of the Judiciary," the group concluded.