Women have ‘the same rights as men’ in Mexico’s forces
Mexican women serving in the army and air force will now be able to move up the ranks, according to a new decision made in Congress.
The lower house of Congress in Mexico approved a reform that opens the possibility for over 10,000 women serving in the nation's armed forces to aspire to high command positions, reports the Latin American Herald Tribune.
Ranking decisions will be made without regard to gender and that both men and women will be able to command units of the army and air force, the amendment states.
Congresswoman Diva Gastelum said: "If women were at the head of the defense secretariat there would not be so many deaths and [so much] insensitivity on the streets."
She made reference to the ongoing struggle against cartels and the high-profile business of drug gangs, which has claimed 9,500 lives since the beginning of 2011, according to CNN.
Ms Gastelum added that the moment has come for women in the Mexican forces.
Under the act's amendment, women and men will both have the same duties in the forces and will be subject to the same rights as established in the constitution in Mexico.
