With an investment exceeding 128 million pesos allocated to the construction and operation of three specialized centers, Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda led the inauguration of the new Women’s Justice Center (CEJUM) in Mexicali. This new facility marks a significant step toward ensuring a life free of violence for women and their children by providing comprehensive, free, and specialized support. With this center, Baja California now has three operational CEJUMs, reinforcing access to justice with equality and dignity.
“This is a comprehensive center where women will be treated with warmth, empathy, and professionalism alongside their children. Women’s empowerment and the eradication of violence are not just words; they are actions,” the governor stated during her morning press conference.
The facility features seven specialized care rooms, including one dedicated to children and adolescents, along with Gesell chambers, a medical office, an empowerment room with space for 100 people, workshop areas, a computer lab, a playroom, a lactation room, and a boutique.
At 1,912 square meters, this is the largest CEJUM in the state.
“We are the first administration in Baja California to truly implement a gender-focused policy. We elevated the Women’s Institute to a Secretariat of Women and have now built three justice centers. This is an unprecedented investment for the women of our state,” the governor said.
As part of her address, Governor Ávila Olmeda highlighted the impact of the CEJUMs across Tijuana, San Quintín, and Mexicali. Over the past three years, these centers have delivered more than 107,000 free and comprehensive services to over 22,000 women and their children.
The governor noted that 100% of the actions mandated under the Gender Violence Alert have been completed in relation to CEJUMs. The Tijuana center has already received certification from the Institutional Integrity System, while the San Quintín facility also meets all required standards.
Magdalena Bautista Ramírez, General Director of CEJUM, highlighted that the centers are equipped with specialized facilities—including a courtroom that allows legal proceedings to take place in a secure environment, eliminating the need for external transfers. Each center also includes administrative offices, operational spaces, and interagency coordination offices.
She emphasized that CEJUM offers a wide range of free services to women, including psychological support, emergency shelter, legal counseling, legal representation, assistance with filing complaints, divorce proceedings, child support claims, custody and parental rights cases, and compensation claims.
“To understand the full value of what CEJUM provides: if a woman were to cover all these services out of pocket, including psychological care, legal assistance, workshops, and more, the cost could total up to 169,000 pesos per year,” Bautista Ramírez said.
State Attorney General María Elena Andrade Ramírez added that her office works closely with CEJUM and maintains dedicated offices within the centers. She emphasized that a specialized protocol is followed for women experiencing violence, guiding them from the initial complaint through the legal process to a final resolution.
