Quintana Roo Opens New Women’s Justice Center in Tulum

Tulum, Quintana Roo — Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa and federal Women’s Secretary Citlalli Hernández Mora inaugurated a new Women’s Justice Center in Tulum on Tuesday, a facility officials described as a major step in combating violence against women in the state.

With an investment exceeding 48 million pesos, the center is designed to provide comprehensive support to women who are victims of violence, offering professional accompaniment and immediate institutional response. Governor Lezama emphasized that the goal is to ensure “no woman has to face violence alone.”

This is the fourth such center in Quintana Roo, joining existing facilities in Cancún, Playa del Carmen, and Chetumal. The network now serves over 900,000 women, girls, and adolescents across the state. Federal Women’s Secretary Citlalli Hernández Mora and Deputy Secretary for the Right to a Life Free from Violence Ingrid Gómez Saracibar attended the inauguration.

Hernández noted that Quintana Roo is one of the states with the most Women’s Justice Centers across different regions. “It is sad to recognize that when women decide to report violence, they often face closed doors or officials who minimize their pain,” she said. She added that under the current federal administration, led by President Claudia Sheinbaum, and the state government led by Governor Lezama, there is a strong, historic commitment to women’s rights.

The new center will serve more than 242,000 women in the region, including residents of Tulum, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, and Puerto Morelos. Services will include psychological, legal, and medical support, and women will be able to file formal complaints and initiate investigations on-site.

Accompanied by State Prosecutor Raciel López Salazar and the honorary president of the Quintana Roo DIF system, Verónica Lezama Espinosa, Governor Lezama highlighted that the facility includes an emergency shelter, a playroom for victims’ children, social accompaniment, job training, and educational placement programs—all part of a comprehensive approach aimed at building lasting peace.

“To solve a problem, the first step is to recognize it,” Lezama stated, noting that in Quintana Roo, more than 70% of women have experienced some form of violence in their lifetime, and nearly half have suffered an assault in the past year.

During the event, Lezama acknowledged the collaborative work of the State Prosecutor’s Office, the Superior Court of Justice, the Women’s Secretariat, the Citizen Security Secretariat, the DIF, the Health sector, Victim Services, and the Tulum City Council, among other agencies.

She affirmed that the invested funds—”the people’s money returning to the people”—were used responsibly and transparently to ensure the center’s long-term operation. “As a woman and as Governor, I want to tell you that in this government we do listen, we do act, and we do provide answers,” she told attendees.

Tulum Mayor Diego Castañón Trejo, who was present, stated that violence must also be combated through education and cultural transformation. He committed to promoting prevention programs in schools, community campaigns, mandatory training for public servants, and clear protocols to ensure rapid, coordinated responses. “We join decisively in our Governor’s call to build peace by addressing the root causes,” he said.

State Prosecutor Raciel López Salazar asserted that “no one, absolutely no one, has the right to harm women.” He encouraged women to come forward: “Silent gratitude helps no one. Today I invite you to report and begin a new stage with your head held high. This is a day of celebration to thank our Governor and the Women’s Secretary for building this Women’s Justice Center here in Tulum.”

Also witnessing the inauguration were Heyden Cebada Rivas, president of the Superior Court of Justice; state legislator Silvia Dzul Sánchez; State Women’s Secretary Esther Burgos Jiménez; Government Secretary Cristina Torres Gómez; Citizen Security Secretary Julio César Gómez Torres; and Federal Prosecutor in Quintana Roo Carlos Tovilla Padilla.