The mayor of Xalapa, Daniela Griego Ceballos, recognized that it is necessary to strengthen the Municipal Women’s Institute (IMM), since currently most of its budget is allocated to payroll, a situation that limits its operational capacity and action in favor of the women of the municipality.
In an interview, the councilor explained that one of the main challenges of her administration will be to generate budget savings that will allow the institute’s resources to increase and provide it with better tools to fulfill its functions.
For the current fiscal year, the Municipal Women’s Institute was approved with a budget of 15 million 203 thousand 087 pesos, which – he specified – already includes operating expenses and salaries; However, he announced that it will be reviewed with the aim of strengthening the organization.
Griego Ceballos explained that the process of decentralization and legal consolidation of the IMM as a decentralized body of the municipal government is in the final stage, after its internal regulations were approved last year.
“We have found that the decentralization process and the constitution of the Institute as a decentralized organization are already being concluded. Now the challenge is to provide it with better tools and its own assets,” he said.
He indicated that meetings have already been held with the municipal treasurer to analyze and review the institute’s budget, since its administrative structure was not completely formalized and it was after the approval of the regulations that it was duly established.
Likewise, the mayor highlighted that a comprehensive diagnosis of the situation of women in Xalapa was initiated, through field work, brigades and outreach to civil society organizations.
“We have worked hard, we started with new activities in the Municipal Women’s Institute; they are going out into the field, a diagnosis is being prepared, implementing brigades and building bridges with civil society,” he said.
Finally, he stressed that strengthening the institute is a constant demand from various sectors and recalled that the Building Commission for Gender Equality was recently installed, chaired by Councilor Mónica Mendoza Madrigal.
The mayor reiterated that the central objective of these actions is to reduce the rates of violence against women and girls in the Veracruz capital, as well as promote preventive programs from the neighborhoods that contribute to improving the living conditions and safety of the Xalapeñas.
