Due to the prevalence of domestic violence, authorities in the Mexican city of Chihuahua have taken action to outlaw the playing of songs that “promote violence against women.”
Mayor Marco Bonilla stated that the proposal was unanimously passed by the city council on July 26 and that penalties for non-compliance would be between 674,000 and 1.244 million pesos (about $40,000 and $74,000).
In a video message shared on Facebook, Bonilla stated that “violence against women has reached levels that we could consider a pandemic,” adding that about 70% of emergency calls in the city involved domestic violence, specifically against women.
He declared, “We can’t allow this, and we also can’t allow this to become normal.”
According to Bonilla, the law prohibits discrimination against, marginalisation of, or exclusion of women as well as the singing of songs that encourage violence against women.
According to councilwoman Paty Ulate, it will be applied to events that call for a council permit.
She noted that donations will be sent to a nearby women’s shelter as well as the Instituto Municipal de Mujeres, a local government organisation that promotes gender equality.
Ulate stated in a different Facebook post that the residents of the community “have a right to enjoy a life free from violence.” According to figures from Mexico’s minister of public security, there were 24 femicides, or gender-based homicides, in the state of Chihuahua from January to June of this year.
Officials did not identify any specific artists that the new rule will target, so it is unclear how it will be applied.
Reggaeton, made popular by musicians like Bad Bunny, may suffer, though, after receiving backlash for its vulgar and misogynistic lyrics in some circles.
Corridos tumbados and narcocorridos, two forms of indigenous Mexican music connected to the drug trade and violence, may also be impacted. Natanael Cano and Peso Pluma are two well-known musicians.
Around a month ago, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador criticised corridos tumbados for encouraging violence and drug usage at a press conference. Now, Chihuahua has banned them. The president added that he would not outright forbid the genre.
On the other hand, Chihuahua’s local government has taken action in the past to limit musical performances.
Los Tigres del Norte, a well-known Mexican band, were prohibited from the city in 2012 after they performed three songs that were deemed to be narcocorridos. 20,000 pesos in fines were also imposed on the event’s organisers.
The state of Chihuahua in northern Mexico is headquartered in Chihuahua City. The biggest city in the state, Ciudad Juárez, is near the US border and is known for being a hub for drug and human smuggling.