Article 4 Political Constitution of the United Mexican States

Women and men are equal before the law. This shall protect the organization and development of families. The State shall guarantee the enjoyment and exercise of the right to substantive equality of women.

Every person has the right to decide freely, responsibly and in an informed manner on the number and spacing of their children.

Every person has the right to nutritious, sufficient and quality food. The State shall guarantee it. Mexico is the center of origin and diversity of maize, which is an element of national identity, staple food of the people of Mexico and basis of the existence of the Indigenous and Afro-Mexican peoples. Its cultivation in the national territory must be free of genetic modifications produced with techniques that overcome the natural barriers of reproduction or recombination, such as transgenic ones. Any other use of genetically modified maize must be evaluated in the terms of the legal provisions in order to remain free of threats to the biosecurity, health and biocultural heritage of Mexico and its population. Priority must be given to the protection of biodiversity, food sovereignty, its agroecological management, promoting scientific-humanistic research, innovation and traditional knowledge.

Every person has the right to the protection of health. The Law shall define the bases and modalities for access to health services and shall establish the concurrence of the Federation and the states (federal entities) in matters of general public health, in accordance with the provisions of section XVI of article 73 of this Constitution. The Law shall define a health system for well-being, for the purpose of guaranteeing the progressive, quantitative and qualitative extension of health services for the comprehensive and free care of persons who do not have social security.

In order to guarantee the right to the protection of the health of persons, the law shall penalize any activity related to electronic cigarettes, vaping devices and other analogous systems or devices that the law indicates; as well as the production, distribution and sale of toxic substances, chemical precursors, the illicit use of fentanyl and other unauthorized synthetic drugs.

Every person has the right to a healthy environment for their development and well-being. The State shall guarantee respect for this right. Environmental damage and deterioration shall generate responsibility for whoever causes it in terms of the provisions of the law.

Mistreatment of animals is prohibited. The Mexican State must guarantee the protection, adequate treatment, conservation and care of animals, in the terms that the respective laws indicate.

Every person has the right to access, disposal and sanitation of water for personal and domestic consumption in a sufficient, healthy, acceptable and affordable manner. The State shall guarantee this right and the law shall define the bases, supports and modalities for the equitable and sustainable access to and use of water resources, establishing the participation of the Federation, the states (federal entities) and the municipalities, as well as the participation of citizens for the attainment of those purposes.

Every person has the right to enjoy adequate housing. The Law shall establish the instruments and supports necessary in order to attain such objective.

Every person has the right to identity and to be registered immediately upon birth. The State shall guarantee the fulfillment of these rights. The competent authority shall issue free of charge the first certified copy of the birth registration record.

In all decisions and actions of the State, the principle of the best interest of children shall be observed and complied with, fully guaranteeing their rights. Boys and girls have the right to the satisfaction of their needs of food, health, education and healthy recreation for their comprehensive development. This principle must guide the design, execution, monitoring and evaluation of the public policies directed at children.

Ascendants, guardians and custodians have the obligation to preserve and demand compliance with these rights and principles.

The State shall grant facilities to private individuals so that they contribute to the fulfillment of the rights of children.

Every person has the right to access to culture and to the enjoyment of the goods and services that the State provides in the matter, as well as the exercise of their cultural rights. The State shall promote the means for the dissemination and development of culture, attending to cultural diversity in all its manifestations and expressions with full respect for creative freedom. The law shall establish the mechanisms for access and participation in any cultural manifestation.

Every person has the right to physical culture and to the practice of sport. It corresponds to the State to promote, foster and encourage it in accordance with the laws on the matter.

The Federation and the states (federal entities) shall guarantee the delivery of a non-contributory pension to persons with permanent disability under sixty-five years of age, in the terms that the law sets.

The State shall guarantee the rehabilitation and habilitation of persons who live with permanent disability, giving priority to persons under eighteen years of age, in terms that the law sets.

Older adults over sixty-five years of age have the right to receive from the State a non-contributory pension in the terms that the law sets.

Persons with permanent disability under sixty-five years of age are entitled to the non-contributory disability pension, and all persons older than that age are entitled to the non-contributory pension for older adults.

The State shall establish a system of scholarships for the students of all school levels of the public education system, with priority to those belonging to families that are found in a condition of poverty, in order to guarantee with equity the right to education.

Every person has the right to mobility in conditions of road safety, accessibility, efficiency, sustainability, quality, inclusion and equality.

The State shall promote the comprehensive development of young persons, through public policies with a multidisciplinary approach, that foster their inclusion in the political, social, economic and cultural sphere of the country. The Law shall establish the concurrence of the Federation, states (federal entities), Municipalities and territorial demarcations of Mexico City, for those purposes.

Every person has the right to live a life free of violence; the State has reinforced duties of protection toward women, adolescents, girls and boys. The law shall define the bases and modalities to guarantee its realization in accordance with the provisions of articles 21, ninth paragraph and 73, section XXI, penultimate paragraph of this Constitution.

The State shall allocate annually sufficient and timely budgetary resources, in accordance with the principle of progressivity, to guarantee the rights established in this article that involve the transfer of direct resources to the target population. The amount of the resources assigned may not be diminished, in real terms, with respect to that which has been assigned in the immediately preceding fiscal year.