Morena lawmaker seeks to ban hazing in Mexico City schools: Starting somewhere new should not inspire fear

Entering a new school should be a moment of welcome and safety, not fear or humiliation, Mexico City Morena lawmaker Alberto Vanegas said as he introduced a proposal against hazing.

During Tuesday’s regular session, Vanegas presented an initiative to amend the Education Law and the Law for the Promotion of Violence-Free Coexistence in the School Environment. The changes would define hazing as a form of violence in schools and expressly prohibit it.

The proposal says authorities would not need to prove that the conduct was repeated or that a lasting relationship of domination or subordination existed. An affected student’s apparent acceptance or participation would also not prevent protective measures when social pressure, intimidation, deception, conditional treatment, abuse of power or a risk to the student’s safety was involved.

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For a long time people have said, ‘That’s how it has always been done’ or ‘Everyone went through it.’ But the fact that conduct is repeated for years does not make it right. No one should have to endure humiliation to make friends, accept punishment to join a team or put their health at risk to prove they deserve to belong.

Vanegas rejected the argument that hazing should continue because it is a custom or tradition passed between student generations. “For a long time people have said, ‘That’s how it has always been done’ or ‘Everyone went through it.’ But the fact that conduct is repeated for years does not make it right. No one should have to endure humiliation to make friends, accept punishment to join a team or put their health at risk to prove they deserve to belong,” he said.

The Tlalpan lawmaker said the initiative would not eliminate welcome events or student activities. “We are not seeking to prevent welcome activities or interaction among students. The limit appears when an activity stops being respectful and becomes a way to humiliate, intimidate, subjugate or endanger someone,” he said. The proposal has been sent to committees.

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We are not seeking to prevent welcome activities or interaction among students. The limit appears when an activity stops being respectful and becomes a way to humiliate, intimidate, subjugate or endanger someone.