What is the mission of the Network?

The Network’s purpose is to unify, coordinate and represent at the national level refuges for women and their children who live with domestic violence. While respecting the autonomy of the refuges, the Network strengthens and supports their work in prevention, the provision of care, and in breaking the cycle of violence. Through an approach based on gender equality and the defence of human rights, the Network aims to save women’s lives when they or their children are at risk.

The vision of the National Network of Refuges

The Network’s vision is to be a strong, reliable and professional organization which represents all the country’s refuges. It seeks to shape public policy and drive social change through coordinated work based on consensual models of operation.


How did the Network begin?

The first refuges in the country were founded towards the end of the 1990s. Mechanisms were established to allow an exchange of experiences, tools and methods of attention, and in 1999 work began to coordinate the activities of refuges, through the provision of mutual support and assistance with referrals. The work aimed to encourage the creation of more refuges, to establish at least one in every state, and to help avoid the closure of existing refuges. At that time there were only four refuges in operation.

Today, there are now more than 70 refuges in Mexico operating 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. All the shelters together can provide protection to 2,500 people in the very same moment. In 2007 refuges from the National Network provide assistance and protection saving 17,000 women and children’s lives.

This has been possible thanks to the organization of civil society, its pursuit of public policy with a focus on gender, and the combined work of many organizations, institutions, politicians and personal alliances.