Observatoria Todas MX Sonora

Members of the feminist collective Observatoria Todas Mx Sonora talks about an initiative to keep abusive out of elected office.

This week, a feminist collective in Sonora announced that it’s working to ban people who have committed gender violence from holding political office in the state.

A collective of Sonoran feminist groups is pushing a new initiative that they say will help reduce violence against women by keeping abusers out of positions of power.

Amelia Iruretagoyena, a representative for the collective Observatoria Todas Mx Sonora, said the initiative would establish three criteria for anyone running for public office: They cannot have been charged with or convicted of committing sexual violence, domestic or partner violence, or for failing to pay child support.

Sonora is the eighth state to take up the initiative — known as three of three. Earlier this month, Yucatan became the first state to pass it into law.

The Sonoran collective will begin collecting signatures next month and plans to present the initiative to Sonoran legislators in September.