Mayan Women Gain Rights Pamphlet in Their Language

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — In a historic event, Governor Mara Lezama announced the translation of the Women's Rights Pamphlet into the Mayan language, making Quintana Roo the first state in the country to undertake this action, which represents an act of social justice and recognition towards the indigenous women of Mayan communities.

Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa emphasized that this achievement symbolizes a firm step towards substantive equality and inclusion.

“We are making history. For the first time, women's rights are written and spoken in the language they learned from their mothers, preserved by their grandmothers, and that they will pass on to their daughters,” she stated.

The Governor underscored that this advancement is part of the humanist and feminist vision of the government of the Republic, led by Dr. Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, who has placed social justice for women at the center of public policies during 2025, declared as the Year of the Indigenous Woman in Mexico.

“This is the true transformation that our president is driving. With concrete actions, we continue building a more just and equal country,” she affirmed.

The head of the Secretariat for Women of Quintana Roo (SEMUJERES), Esther Burgos, maintained that the translation constitutes a fundamental tool to provide Mayan-speaking communities with clear information about their rights, which will strengthen their access to justice and promote fuller participation in community life.

The project was the result of coordinated work between SEMUJERES and the Intercultural Maya University, where specialists in Mayan language and culture completed the translation in just two months, following a consultation process with women from different municipalities to ensure that each word maintained its meaning and cultural value.

With the Mayan version, Mayan-speaking women will have access to a tool that will allow them to know and exercise their rights without linguistic barriers.

“It means that those who before could not read or understand in Spanish will now be able to defend their dignity and their freedom in their own language,” stressed Mara Lezama.

Finally, the Governor reiterated that her humanist government, with a feminist heart, works every day to eliminate obstacles that prevent women's access to justice and equality.

“When a Mayan woman raises her voice in her language, the strength of an entire history, an entire culture, and a people who will never be silenced is heard,” she concluded.