Monday, May 12, 2014

Saluting Mothers, Peña Nieto Outlines Programs for Women

Presidency of the Republic Staff

President Enrique Peña Nieto congratulated all mothers in Mexico, who are the strength of our society, and certainly the greatest support in every home, “On the noble, selfless work they do 365 days a year for the country’s families.”

As he led the Mother’s Day celebration at the official Los Pinos residence, the President announced his commitment to ensure that, beyond the actions and “public policies of a state that cares for, protects and promotes the women and mothers of Mexico … efforts will be made to launch a campaign for society to reassess the work performed by women within the home.”

“If we want a fairer and more equitable country, we must begin, precisely there, in the family,” he said.

President Peña Nieto also announced that he has instructed the Secretary of Agricultural, Territorial and Urban Development to use the Popular Housing Fund (FONHAPO) to launch “a pilot program in seven states in the country so that female householders will have the opportunity to purchase a home with weekly payments of less than 500 pesos.”

“With concrete actions such as these, the country acknowledged Mexican mothers, who are an example of struggle, fortitude and daily work, which they do with love and totally and absolutely for the benefit of their loved ones,” he declared.

To the women who are celebrating Mother’s Day for the first time, he said: “Your children were born in a country that is in movement, which is becoming transformed to achieve a new stage of success and prosperity for all Mexican families. In this project we are promoting to transform Mexico, mothers have a fundamental role to play.”

The president of Mexico said that the country’s women and mothers motivate the effort made by the government to ensure that their future and that of their children, “Is more promising and has more opportunities for a decent life and better conditions.”

He released key figures on the actions being promoted by the government for women:

He said that the first step towards implementing several of these projects establishes a gender perspective in the National Development Plan 2013-2018. In other words, for the first time the needs and priorities of women are present in all government actions.

He noted that nowadays one out of every four households in Mexico is headed by a woman. “The greatest concern of women householders is undoubtedly to ensure that their children complete their studies, even in the event that they die,” he said.

“And in order to support them in this goal, the Life Insurance for Female Heads of Household was created, which protects their children until they complete college in the event of their deaths. There are now 3.5 million moms nationwide with this insurance, and over 1,500 children who unfortunately lost their mothers who are now being protected by the government,” he explained.

He declared that in order to help working mothers care for their children, there are already over 15,000 fulltime schools in the country, “Where their children are now better educated. At these schools, they are given meals and spend more time there, which enables mothers to be reassured that their children are engaged in recreational, cultural activities, and given a healthy diet.”

Likewise, he continued, “The Child Daycare Program continues to be expanded. Today, there are 9,500 facilities supporting 275,000 mothers throughout the country.”

He noted that the Oportunidades program has benefited over 5.7 million women living in poverty, with an additional income that allows them to raise their families. Within the National Crusade against Hunger, which targets those with the least, the Community Kitchens Program was created. “To date there are over 3,800 kitchens in operation, meaning that about 350,000 children, and expectant or breastfeeding mothers, are given nutritious, quality food.”

Within the Actions of the National Crusade against Hunger, the Hunger-Free card was established, which already supports 430,000 families in the purchase of 15 basic goods in the DICONSA chain stores, which is expanding and spreading throughout the country.

He noted that this government has particularly promoted the LICONSA Milk Program, “And so far during this administration, this program has grown by nearly 600,000 beneficiaries, mainly located in rural and indigenous areas.” He highlighted the support given to over 100,000 expectant and breastfeeding women, who receive LICONSA fortified milk.

President Peña Nieto added that with the 65 and Over Program, “Which protects mothers, particularly our grandmothers, whom we are supporting with a pension,” there are already 2.9 million women receiving this benefit. “This form of support is designed to help the great mothers in Mexico, grandmothers who often take care of their grandchildren, enabling their daughters to work,” he said.

He added that to complement these social efforts, the government has proposed creating the necessary conditions for women to develop in all productive sectors. For example, he said, “In 2013, the Program for Women in the Agricultural Sector and the Support Fund for Productive Projects in Agricultural Cores benefited nearly 45,000 women, who account for 77 percent of the beneficiaries of both programs devoted to women.”

Likewise, he said, “In order to support entrepreneurial moms, in 2013 lines of credit were offered to the microfinance institutions, benefiting over 600,000 women entrepreneurs, who decided to make and market their own business and had credit support for this purpose.”

Plans are already underway, through the Secretariat of Social Development, to build ten Women’s Cities across the country, including two already being built in La Montaña in Guerrero and Tierra Caliente in Michoacán, in which “Comprehensive care and guidance will be provided for women to enable them to effectively enjoy their rights.”

——————————

Presidency of the Republic, Mexico, DF, May 9, 2014; translation by Presidency of the Republic (edited)