Mexico City, March 18, 2025.- As part of International Women’s Day, students from the Law School at the Universidad Panamericana, Mexico City campus, organized a series of conferences featuring prominent leaders from various fields to address the current challenges women face in society.
Personal Safety: The Importance of Prevention
The journalist and documentary filmmaker Bibiana Belsasso, known for her work on national security and organized crime, gave a talk on personal safety., Belsasso, who has covered some of the most shocking cases of drug trafficking and violence in Mexico, shared with students at the Universidad Panamericana insights on how to prevent crime and protect personal safety in a country where insecurity is a daily reality.
“Most crimes can be prevented if we stay alert,”, said Belsasso, who emphasized the importance of maintaining a state of constant alert and not underestimating the risks that may arise in daily life. The journalist emphasized prevention as the key to avoiding dangerous situations, ranging from assaults to cases of chemical submission, a phenomenon that has been on the rise in recent years.
The speaker also addressed sensitive issues such as gender-based violence and child abuse, noting that Mexico is one of the countries with the highest rates of child sexual abuse, where 90% of cases occur within the family.
“The key is not to normalize violence”, the journalist emphasized, urging students to identify warning signs and foster support networks to strengthen safety in their communities.
Women in Leadership: Women Transforming Politics
Alessandra Rojo de la Vega, mayor of Cuauhtémoc, shared her experience as a woman in politics and her fight for gender equality. Rojo de la Vega, who has spearheaded important legislative reforms such as the Ley Olimpia, which criminalizes digital violence, spoke about the challenges women face in a system that has historically marginalized them.
“When a woman enters politics, she changes. But when many women enter politics, politics changes”, said Rojo de la Vega, who emphasized the importance of women occupying decision-making positions to transform power structures. Similarly, the mayor also called on young people to challenge gender stereotypes and fight for a world where women can live without fear.
She also highlighted the crisis of gender-based violence in Mexico, where 11 women are murdered every day and 90% of crimes go unpunished. “We cannot talk about opportunities or professional development if we continue to face this level of violence,”, she stated.
Public Administration: Vocation and Ethics in Public Service
For her part Gabriela López Castañeda, legal director of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), shared her career in public administration and the importance of a calling to serve in this field.
López Castañeda, who has held various positions in the public sector, emphasized the need for young lawyers to focus on areas such as international arbitration and mediation, which are becoming increasingly relevant in a globalized world.
“The law would be meaningless if it were not linked to values and human rights,”, he said, while calling on students not to lose sight of the importance of ethics and integrity in their professional development.
She also shared her experience as a woman in a sector historically dominated by men, demonstrating that talent and preparation are the key to breaking down barriers.
A call to action
These lectures not only gave Panamericana students the opportunity to hear from three prominent women in their respective fields, but also allowed them to reflect on the challenges facing Mexican society in the areas of security, gender equality, and public administration.
The three speakers agreed on the importance of prevention, gender equality, and a commitment to service as essential pillars for the development of a more just and safe country.
Through initiatives such as this one, the Universidad Panamericana its commitment to the well-rounded education of its students, promoting an education grounded in Christian humanism, the pursuit of truth, and a commitment to social justice.
Learn more about our university's mission and vision at: https://www.up.edu.mx/sobre-la-universidad-fundamentos-y-valores/
