State-of-the-Art Qualifications on Gender and Justice: PROFEMEX
Pervasive gender-based violence and systemic discrimination, where impunity remains the norm, over 95% of femicides go unpunished, and only 1% of sexual violence cases result in a conviction, mark the current reality in Mexico. These challenges are compounded by the lack of standardised gender-sensitive protocols, revictimising practices, and deeply rooted patriarchal cultures within the judiciary. Despite progress in training, these efforts have yet to produce lasting institutional change, largely due to limited evaluation and follow-up. Amid the ongoing judicial reform (2024–2025), the project seeks to consolidate and expand progress on gender equality, emphasising practical capacity-building, institutional coherence, and long-term sustainability.
The PROFEMEX: Fortalecimiento del acceso a la justicia con enfoque de género y diferencial para las mujeres en México project aims to enhance women’s access to justice through a gender- and intersectionality-based approach in Mexico, with a focus on Oaxaca and Quintana Roo. It does so by strengthening public defence services and building the capacities of judicial and legal professionals.
In this context, Dorsch Impact is responsible for the Design and implementation of state-of-the-art qualifications on gender and justice in Mexico, supports the PROFEMEX by designing and implementing practical qualification programs that strengthen the institutional and professional capacities of the justice system, at the federal level and in the states of Oaxaca and Quintana Roo encompassing the gender transformative approach and AI, as they utilise an interactive format that integrates artificial intelligence, emphasising the effective transfer and practical application of knowledge in the daily work of justice operators.
The expected outcomes include the application of gender and diversity guidelines within the Federal Institute of Public Defense (IFDP), the enhancement of services for women in public defender offices, and the capacity building of local social actors.
Disciplines
- Governance, Peace and Social Cohesion
Client
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH / Instituto Federal de Defensoría Pública (IFDP), funded by BMZ / EU
Duration
From 2025 to 2026
Location
Oaxaca and Quintana Roo , Mexico
Project Activities
Dorsch Impact areas of responsibility are divided into two main areas:
- Practical training in litigation with a gender and intersectionality focus, aimed at key judicial personnel; the target group includes litigators, public defenders, legal assistants, and legal representatives of women.
- Institutional mainstreaming of the gender approach in processes, structures, and strategic functions of the judicial system; the target group includes units responsible, or leaders mandated to drive institutional changes with an intersectional gender perspective.
These will be carried out through four main activities:
- Preparation and development of an exploratory research project to systematise the existing judicial training ecosystem in the thematic area of gender and identify opportunities to complement the system under the current transition conditions of the judiciary;
- Development of training proposals based on the findings of the analyses;
- Development and design of content, and necessary programming (AI, digital) for the training offer;
- Implementation of the qualifications and training IFDP officials and public defenders
Impact:
- 600 practitioners will be trained (400 IFDP personnel; 80 from Oaxaca and Quintana Roo defender offices; 80 from NGOs/other institutions) in litigation tools, intersectionality, and person‑centred justice;
- At least 200 IFDP participants will report on applying new gender/diversity measures in daily work;
- 75% of designated state public defenders and legal advisors will apply institutional gender/diversity policy in real cases;
- 100 local social actors (50 per state) will be empowered to use observatory and sensitisation outputs in casework and advocacy, benefiting women and vulnerable groups across federal and state justice service.
The target groups include litigators, public defender personnel, gender units, and institutional leaders. Dorsch Impact will collaborate with PROFEMEX, the IFDP, and judicial training schools to analyse, design, implement, and evaluate the qualification programs, ensuring sustainability and a practical, results-oriented approach to judicial training.
Contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals
We are committed to making a positive impact and supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This project contributes to the following SDGs:
