Puerto Morelos Opens Violeta Safe Space

Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo — Mayor Blanca Merari Tziu Muñoz has inaugurated the "Espacio de Acogida Violeta" (Violeta Safe Space), a secure facility for women, children, and adolescents, as the cornerstone of the new "Estrategia Violeta" (Violet Strategy). The initiative represents a municipal commitment to combat gender-based violence and provide protection for potential victims.

A Frontline Combat Against Violence

The strategy was launched to confront a social problem that is often minimized or rendered invisible, one that profoundly affects the lives of girls and women, family coexistence, and the social fabric. Mayor Blanca Merari stated the project is grounded in the Quintana Roo State Law on Women's Access to a Life Free of Violence and the federal General Law for Victims.

"This is a strategy that aims to confront one of the burdens that most hurts us as a society in Mexico: violence against women. It is a project with a feminist vision, but above all, a humanist one," affirmed the mayor.

A Comprehensive Approach to Safety

The mayor explained that the strategy to reduce levels of violence integrates several components: Violeta Brigades, a Mobile Violeta Assistance Module, a Violeta Safeguard Network—which has already been joined by more than 50 businesses—Institutional Violeta Training for municipal officials, and Violeta Women's Circles.

Promotional efforts include five large billboards installed in the municipality's highest-traffic zones. In a show of support, the company Red Ambiental has branded two of its solid waste collection trucks with the name of the project.

The newly inaugurated safe space is described as a place of assistance for women, girls, boys, and adolescents in dangerous situations. It is designed to be a secure, temporary, emergent, confidential, and comfortable site for the protection of potential victims.

Coordination Across Government Levels

The symbolic ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by Karen Alejandra Román Flores, Technical Secretary of the Regional Coordination for the Construction of Peace and Security and Citizen Protection of the Federal Government; Elibenia Pineda Aguilar, Founder of the Security and Justice Board for Women, Girls, Boys and Adolescents; Leona Vicario delegate Lucelly Benítez Arzapalo; council member Gonzalo Calderón Poot; and various municipal department heads and directors.

Prior to the ceremony, Lt. Nav. Imp. Manuel Alejandro Nava García, Municipal Secretary of Citizen Security of Puerto Morelos, welcomed attendees and indicated that the strategy is being developed with the participation and coordination of all three levels of government: municipal, state, and federal.

At the municipal level, four primary agencies are involved: GEAVIG (Specialized Attorney General's Office for Gender-Based Violence), the DIF (Integrated Family Development System), the Municipal Women's Institute (IMM), and SIPINNA (National System for the Comprehensive Protection of Girls, Boys and Adolescents). Their combined efforts are intended to guarantee the well-being of those who have been victims of violence.

The heads of GEAVIG, IMM, and SIPINNA—Daniela Pérez López, Arlette Escudero Ordóñez, and Ana Luisa Luna Ramón—thanked the authority's support for integrating the "Estrategia Violeta" project, where each area plays a relevant role in comprehensively addressing family and gender-based violence. They also presented updates on the project's progress.

Following the inauguration, Mayor Blanca Merari led a tour of the "Espacio de Acogida Violeta" for special guests and officials present. She reiterated that "this public policy, focused on preventing, addressing, and working to reduce violence against girls, adolescents, and women is a turning point in the fight against this scourge that deteriorates the life and liberty of women."