Quintana Roo Faces Critical Delays in Vicarious Violence Cases Despite 2022 Law

Chetumal, Mexico — Despite criminalizing vicarious violence in August 2022, Quintana Roo faces critical delays in prosecuting cases due to outdated state laws and a severe shortage of specialized personnel.

The main obstacle stems from the state’s failure to align its legislation with recent federal standards for substantive equality. While national law specifically defines vicarious violence as a form of gender-based violence committed by men against women through their children, Quintana Roo’s legal framework remains anchored to older criteria that blur this distinction.

Experts and civil organizations warn that local authorities often link this conduct solely to domestic violence, leaving the identity of the aggressor ambiguous. This legal uncertainty creates inconsistent interpretations in courts, making it difficult for victims to obtain clear rulings. This situation places Quintana Roo among states that have criminalized vicarious violence but operate under a regulatory framework that doesn’t fully recognize its gendered nature.

Beyond legislative problems, justice institutions face severe operational deficiencies. Both the State Prosecutor’s Office and the Judicial Branch lack sufficient technical and expert staff to handle case demands. The absence of specialized forensic experts slows investigation file preparation and delays legal processes, leaving mothers in prolonged vulnerability while their cases stagnate.

Quintana Roo’s situation reflects a national regulatory inequality. While 22 states have incorporated vicarious violence into their penal codes, states like Nuevo León, Querétaro and Veracruz haven’t formally criminalized it. For Quintana Roo, the challenge isn’t just having the law, but updating it to prevent legal loopholes that aggressors exploit through bureaucratic interpretations.

To advance effective prosecution, the local Congress must urgently adjust the penal code to align with federal substantive equality standards. Victim groups emphasize that the law alone is insufficient without budget allocations for hiring and training expert personnel, ensuring a gender-focused approach guides every vicarious violence investigation in the state.