The Department of State of the United States of America and the Secretariat of Foreign Relations of the United Mexican States, hereinafter "the Participants";
RECOGNIZING their desire to strengthen the ties of friendship and cooperation between the United Mexican States and the United States of America;
INTERESTED in ensuring that their commitment to gender equality is reflected as a cross-cutting issue in their bilateral relationship;
CONVINCED that equal participation of women, from all communities and ethnicities, is necessary for the full and complete development of both countries;
RECOGNIZING the role of women as agents of change in society and their contribution to the economic development, democratic institutions, citizen security and prosperity of both nations;
CONSIDERING the importance of supporting the full social, political, economic and cultural engagement of women;
AWARE of the importance of cooperating in promoting and protecting human rights;
BEARING IN MIND international efforts regarding gender equality and development;
Have reached the following understandings:
The objective of this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is to provide a framework for the Participants to advance equality, empowerment and the promotion of the human rights of girls and women as part of their bilateral relationship.
In order to achieve the objective referred to in Section 1, the Participants identify the following areas of cooperation as key to creating equal and prosperous societies:
i. Promoting economic empowerment and opportunity for women and girls;
ii. Promoting social development that supports gender equality;
iii. Strengthening citizen security, with a particular focus on women and girls;
iv. Promoting increased access to justice; and
v. Any other areas as mutually decided by the Participants.
In order to achieve the objective of this MOU and to promote gender equality, the Participants are dedicated to incorporating gender throughout the bilateral relationship and to carrying out cooperative activities, such as the following:
i. Promoting Economic Empowerment and Opportunity for Women and Girls:
The Participants recognize that women are important agents of growth and development whose full potential has too often gone untapped. Women's economic participation promotes innovation, agricultural productivity, the development of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. It also strengthens business management and improves return on investment. In addition to boosting economic growth, women reinvest a large portion of their income in their families and communities. Bilateral cooperative activities to promote women's economic empowerment and opportunity for women and girls may include but are not limited to:
ii. Promoting Social Development that Supports Gender Equality:
Social development, with a focus on women and girls, is key to growing the next generation of leaders for the public, private and non-governmental sectors. It includes raising awareness of gender equality, and helping women and girls receive the education and develop the skills they need to fully participate in public life. Bilateral cooperative activities to promote this type of social development opportunities for women and girls may include but are not limited to:
iii. Strengthening Citizen Security, with a Particular Focus on Women and Girls:
Ensuring citizen security is crucial to building prosperous and secure nations. Criminal activity, including gender based violence (GBV), undermines efforts to promote gender equality and women's full participation in civil, social, political and economic spheres. Bilateral cooperative activities in the area of citizen security may include, but are not limited to:
iv. Promoting Increased Access to Justice:
Full and equal access to justice is a critical element of citizen security. Women and girls should be able to avail themselves of judicial remedies, guarantees, and protection mechanisms to redress criminal acts, particularly those involving violence. Bilateral cooperative activities in the area of access to justice may include but are not limited to:
The Participants may also engage in other bilateral cooperative activities as may be mutually decided in furtherance of the objective of this MOU.
The Participants may designate representatives to coordinate activities and discussions under this MOU.
Any cooperative activities under this MOU are subject to the availability of funds and personnel of each Participant, and are to be conducted in accordance with the laws and regulations of each Participant.
Signed in Washington, D.C., in duplicate, this eighteenth day of September, two thousand and twelve, in the English and Spanish languages.