The Baja California Sur state Congress unanimously approved a constitutional reform on April 23 that amends Article 73 of Mexico’s federal Constitution, granting the national Congress authority to create a single, unified law governing the crime of femicide across all 32 states.
The vote in La Paz makes BCS one of several states to endorse the reform in recent days. Congresses in Baja California (in Mexicali), Durango, and Aguascalientes also approved the same constitutional amendment, which requires backing from a majority of state legislatures before it can take effect.
What the Reform Does
Currently, each Mexican state defines femicide differently in its own penal code. Penalties, investigative protocols, and evidentiary standards vary widely from state to state. The reform aims to eliminate those discrepancies by empowering the federal Congress to issue a single national law that standardizes the criminal definition of femicide, sets uniform penalties, and establishes common investigation procedures.
Once the required number of state legislatures ratifies the amendment, the federal Congress will have 180 days to draft and approve the new general law. Until that legislation takes effect, existing state laws remain in force.
Lawmakers Call for Funding, Not Just Legislation
BCS legislators stressed that passing a uniform law alone will not solve the problem. They called for adequate funding and institutional capacity to enforce the new standards. One lawmaker described the reform as “work to preserve and make visible the danger women face in situations related to femicide,” according to El Sudcaliforniano.
The reform comes during an active legislative period for women’s safety in BCS. Just days later, on April 24, the same state Congress approved separate reforms to the BCS penal code known as “Ley Alina.” Those changes recognize legitimate self-defense for women who act against their aggressors in contexts of domestic or sexual violence, potentially exempting them from criminal liability.
National Push for Uniform Standards
The national effort to unify femicide laws has drawn bipartisan support. In Aguascalientes, both PAN and Morena legislators agreed that the current patchwork of state definitions enables impunity. The proposed national law could set penalties ranging from 40 to 70 years in prison for femicide convictions, according to reporting from that state’s legislative session.
BCS has grappled with gender violence for years. During International Women’s Day marches in the state on March 8, activist groups publicly demanded stronger legal protections and better enforcement of existing laws.
This story was first reported by BCS Noticias and El Sudcaliforniano.