How to report sexual assault in Mexico

where to report

You can report to the Ministerio Público (public prosecutor's office) of your state, or go to a Centro de Justicia para las Mujeres (CJM), a specialist one-stop centre found in most states that combines legal, psychological and medical services. You can also call 911, which will connect you to police and, where available, refer you to a CJM. Reporting anonymously via 089, or through a support organisation rather than in person, is possible in some states, and hospitals must give emergency care under health rule NOM-046 whether or not you decide to file a formal report.

what to bring

Official identification is useful if you have it but is not required to file a report or to get medical care. Bring any clothing or items you think may hold evidence, keep them unwashed, and be ready to describe what happened; the prosecutor's office will open a case file (carpeta de investigación) from your statement.

the exam window

Go to a hospital emergency department or a Centro de Justicia para las Mujeres as soon as possible; NOM-046-SSA2-2005 requires health facilities to offer emergency contraception and HIV post-exposure prophylaxis within 120 hours, but forensic evidence is best preserved if the exam happens within 72 hours.

the deadline

Limitation periods for sexual offences are set by each state's penal code and vary considerably; many states set no limitation period, or a long one, for aggravated sexual assault or offences against minors, while other cases carry a fixed number of years. Check the code of the state where the assault occurred.