Mexico Politics: New congress to have most women in Mexican history

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Recent elections brought historic changes to Mexico. When the new Congress is sworn in on September first, it will have more women than ever in that nation's history. CGTN's Franc Contreras reports from Mexico City.

For decades, women have endured sexism and abuse from men in Mexico's macho culture.

With Mexico's newly-elected Congress that could change. When Mexico's 64th Congress is sworn in on September 1st, it will make Mexican history. Both houses - the Senate and lower house, called the Chamber of Deputies - will have the greatest number of women lawmakers ever.

In September, outgoing Senator Martha Tagle will move to the Lower House. As a long-standing champion of women's rights, she says legislators from all of Mexico's political parties helped push for gender equality in Congress.

MARTHA TAGLE MEXICAN SENATOR "And in 2014, we finally achieved a Constitutional change that recognized the right of women to have an equal role in decision-making on public policy in this country."

Senator Tagle says other legislative priorities include creating laws to end domestic violence in Mexico and efforts to guarantee that lawmakers will have power are underway.

FRANC CONTRERAS MEXICO CITY "To have a real impact on lawmaking in Mexico, women are already working behind the scenes here at the Senate and the Lower House of Congress to make certain they become chairs of leading commissions."

President-elect Lopez Obrador's new cabinet will also have more women than ever before. Former Supreme Court Judge Olga Sanchez will become the nation's top security official heading up Mexico's Interior Ministry.

And Mexico's next minister of the economy will be Graciela Marquez. Along with her responsibilities of guiding Mexico's economy, she will also head Mexico's NAFTA renegotiating team.

Ximena Andion directs a non-governmental organization that trains women for top leadership roles. She says women at the bottom of Mexican society need the most help.

XIMENA ANDION DIRECTOR, SIMONE DE BEAUVOIR LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE "There are 2.4 million people who work cleaning other peoples' homes. The majority are women who are discriminated against and not protected under the Federal Labor Law."

Across Mexico, millions of women are seeking gender equality. In a few months, a record number of women lawmakers will be protecting and working to expand their rights. FC, CGTN, Mexico City.