The suicide of teacher Alberto Israel Jasso Cruz—who had a 25-year career at Mexico City’s Institute of Upper Secondary Education (IEMS)—sparked a broad public debate regarding how educational and justice institutions handle accusations made against teaching staff.
In the wake of this event, the organization *Equidad y Justicia* (Equity and Justice), together with teachers, collectives, and social media users, is spearheading a citizen initiative known as the “Alberto Law.” The movement seeks to promote legal and administrative reforms aimed at strengthening the presumption of innocence, ensuring due process, and simultaneously protecting actual victims of crimes.
Before his death, Alberto Israel Jasso Cruz released a video message addressing an allegation of sexual abuse made against him at an IEMS campus. In the recording, the teacher maintained his innocence and questioned existing institutional protocols. He also highlighted the severe emotional, financial, and reputational impact faced by accused individuals before a thorough investigation takes place or a judicial ruling is issued.
Among the messages shared by the campaign’s promoters, the following statement attributed to the teacher stands out:
“I want this to be understood as an act of defiance or a sacrifice so that the justice system improves and the presumption of innocence is respected.”
Under the slogan “For truth. For justice. For life,” the movement proposes restructuring how complaints are handled within educational and justice institutions through the following points:
Presumption of innocence and precautionary measures: Implementing protocols that apply objective preventive measures without publicly exposing the accused or prejudging them as guilty, ensuring that preventive removal from the classroom does not lead to workplace harassment, a lack of legal defense, or public exposure. Sanctions for false accusations: Establish penalties for individuals who file deliberately false accusations that cause professional, familial, or personal harm.
Comprehensive support: Provide psychological and legal assistance to both the complainant and the accused party throughout the course of official investigations.
To date, the so-called “Alberto Law” remains within the realm of social activism and calls for institutional reform. No formal bill has been introduced in the Mexico City Congress, nor does there exist a legislative text containing specific articles or sanctions.
For the proposals championed by the collective to become binding laws, it will be necessary to draft a formal bill, specify the regulations to be amended, and submit the proposal to the appropriate legislative process.
