Baja California’s Secretary of Social Inclusion and Gender Equality (SISIG) will require all 298 registered rehabilitation centers in the state to complete mandatory human rights training starting in July. Secretary Belinda Rodríguez announced the program, which will cover inclusive language, non-discrimination, and gender-based violence prevention.
Each center must complete a 10-hour course developed and delivered jointly by five state agencies. Those agencies include the State Human Rights Commission (CEDHBC) and the Institute of Psychiatry of Baja California. The training has legal backing under Baja California’s Health Law.
Incident at Patrulla Espiritual Sparked the Initiative
The program was triggered by a controversy earlier this year involving a young person known as “Karim,” who was admitted to the Patrulla Espiritual rehabilitation center while wearing feminine clothing. Details of the incident prompted state officials to formalize protections for vulnerable populations inside rehab facilities.
So far, the state has engaged only four of the 298 centers: one women-only facility in Tijuana and three men’s facilities in Ensenada. That leaves the vast majority of the state’s rehab network untouched with less than a year remaining in the current administration’s term.
A Sector With Limited Oversight
Baja California’s rehabilitation centers are largely run by civil society organizations and religious groups, not government agencies. The 298 facilities are registered with the state Secretary of Health, but the sector has historically operated with minimal oversight regarding patient treatment standards and dignity protections.
The new training requirement represents a formal attempt to establish baseline standards for how centers treat residents, particularly those who belong to marginalized groups. Whether the government can reach all 298 centers before its term ends remains an open question, given that only four facilities have participated so far.
Baja California’s rehab centers serve thousands of residents across Tijuana, Mexicali, Ensenada, Rosarito, and Tecate. Family members of people in residential treatment should be aware that the new inclusion and dignity standards are being rolled out statewide.
This story was first reported by Punto Norte.