Mexico’s voluntary disarmament program collects over 13,000 weapons
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In Mexico, citizens voluntarily exchanged over 13,000 firearms for money through the “Yes to Disarmament, Yes to Peace” program.
Secretary of the Interior Rosa Icela Rodríguez Velázquez announced the number during a press conference with President Claudia Sheinbaum. The program allows people to anonymously turn in weapons and receive cash in return, with the goal of reducing crime. Alongside the firearms, people also traded 14,553 toy weapons for educational toys.
The government believes this initiative, which began October 1, 2024, addresses the root causes of crime by offering a way for citizens to remove weapons from circulation and provide children with alternative playthings. Beyond the disarmament program, the federal government reports completing 8.6 million services benefitting 5.1 million people over two years. These services included house visits, peace fairs, and the distribution of essential goods to communities in 35 municipalities.
Additionally, 416,330 young people have entered the workforce through the “Youths Building the Future” program, and 31,235 students enrolled in “Boxing for Peace” classes.
