Child Abandonment in Tultitlán: An Ethical Tragedy and the Failure of Sexual Health Policy in Mexico

February 26, 2025
Author: Juan Manuel Palomares Cantero 
Versión en Español

Social Indifference and a Foreseen Tragedy

At what point did we become indifferent? How is it possible for a baby to be abandoned on the street without any prior action to prevent such a tragedy? A few days ago, the case of a young couple linked to proceedings for leaving their newborn in Tultitlán. It alarmed social media and generated a wave of outrage. This unfortunate event is not an isolated incident but rather the consequence of a profound crisis rooted in deficient sexual education, reductionist public policies, and a society that has normalized irresponsibility.

For years, the government’s strategy has insisted on a partial vision of sexual health, focused solely on contraceptives and the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, while neglecting education in emotional bonds, commitment, and responsibility. Today, we are witnessing the consequences of a model that prioritizes "freedom" without responsibility, leaving young people without the necessary tools to make mature decisions. Child abandonment emerges as an ethical tragedy that transcends legal and social boundaries, proving that it is not just about negligent parents, but rather a failing system that has failed to educate, guide, and prevent.

Child Abandonment: A Deep Ethical Problem

Child abandonment is not just an individual tragedy; it reflects an ethical crisis in which sexuality has become an exercise in freedom devoid of responsibility. Society has embraced the idea that conception is optional and, if it happens, there are methods to "correct" the mistake. But when abortion is not an option due to legal, economic, or moral reasons, some resort to the most extreme solution: getting rid of the problem.

The case in Tultitlán illustrates this mentality. The couple never wanted to become parents; their intention was to terminate the pregnancy. When they were unable to do so, they opted for abandonment. This is not merely an act of individual negligence but the result of a culture that has normalized human life as disposable when it does not fit into personal plans. As long as we continue promoting a culture in which life is optional and commitment is an obstacle, child abandonment will remain a recurrent tragedy.

Deficiencies in Mexico’s Sexual Health Policy

Mexico’s sexual health policy has prioritized a strategy centered on biological prevention and access to contraceptives, without reinforcing education in values, emotional bonding, and responsibility. This approach has created a false sense of control, encouraging increased sexual activity without awareness of its consequences and, paradoxically, increasing the likelihood of unplanned pregnancies.

Mexico’s sexual health policy has prioritized a strategy centered on biological prevention and access to contraceptives, without reinforcing education in values, emotional bonding, and responsibility. This approach has created a false sense of control, encouraging increased sexual activity without awareness of its consequences and, paradoxically, increasing the likelihood of unplanned pregnancies.

The case in Tultitlán reflects this deficiency. It is not just the result of an irresponsible couple but of an educational system that has prioritized technical prevention over reinforcing responsibility and commitment. When contraception fails and abortion is not a viable option, the "quick fix" becomes child abandonment. It is necessary to redefine sexual education to promote maturity and responsibility rather than reinforcing a culture of avoiding consequences. Families must reclaim their central role in the emotional and ethical upbringing of young people, and educational programs should focus on values and human relationships beyond mere technical instruction on contraception.

Sexual Education Around the World: “Successful Models”

While Mexico maintains a reductionist approach to sexual education, other countries have developed more comprehensive programs with better results in reducing adolescent pregnancies and fostering emotional responsibility. In the Netherlands, the teenage pregnancy rate is just 4 births per 1,000 teenagers, in contrast to Mexico, where it is over 50 per 1,000. In Sweden and Norway, sex education emphasizes respect, relational ethics and responsible decision-making, while in Scotland health and well-being are pillars of learning, with teaching about commitment integrated into the school curriculum.

These models demonstrate that simply distributing contraceptives is not enough to address the issue. It is essential to reinforce value-based education and strengthen the role of families in shaping young people's attitudes, combining prevention with an ethical framework that prepares them for responsible emotional and sexual lives.

Proposals for a Comprehensive and Ethical Sexual Health Policy

To transform Mexico’s sexual health policy, an integrated approach linking human dignity with responsibility is essential. Providing information or access to contraceptives is not enough; young people must be educated in emotional bonding and self-determination. Families must reclaim their central role in value formation, while public policies should extend beyond biological prevention to promote emotional maturity and personal commitment in interpersonal relationships.

Child abandonment and adolescent pregnancy reflect a social crisis that requires collective action. It is urgent to strengthen the culture of solidarity through support networks for pregnant women in vulnerable situations, the promotion of adoption as a viable alternative and the encouragement of youth volunteering to reinforce social commitment. Likewise, sexual education must incorporate bioethical principles that help to understand sexuality from a framework of responsibility, dignity, and respect for life.

Conclusions

Child abandonment results from an ethical crisis and a reductionist sexual education system that prioritizes biological prevention over the development of values, emotional bonding, and responsibility. The current educational approach fosters a false sense of control that encourages sexual activity without awareness of its consequences, leading to increased unplanned pregnancies and, in extreme cases, child abandonment.

Mexico’s sexual health policies have failed by focusing on autonomy without responsibility, neglecting the ethical and relational dimensions of sexuality. An integrated approach is necessary—one that involves families, educational institutions, and the media in promoting educational models that reinforce the value of life and the meaning of freedom with responsibility.

To change this reality, it is urgent to reform school curricula to include education in emotional bonding and relational ethics, strengthen the role of families in emotional development, and demand greater accountability from the media in how they portray sexuality. Media messages should stop promoting a culture of hypersexualization, which trivializes human relationships and reinforces a view of sexuality detached from commitment and responsibility. In addition, support networks for pregnant women in vulnerable situations should also be promoted, adoption should be encouraged as a viable alternative, and youth mentoring programs should be developed to guide adolescents in making responsible decisions about their emotional and sexual lives. Only through truly comprehensive education can we build a society that values life and promotes commitment in human relationships.

Juan Manuel Palomares Cantero is a lawyer, master, and doctor in Bioethics from Universidad Anáhuac, Mexico. He has served as Director of Human Capital, Director, and General Coordinator at the Faculty of Bioethics. Currently, he works as a researcher in the Academic Directorate of Integral Training at the same university. He is a member of the Mexican National Academy of Bioethics and the Latin American and Caribbean Federation of Bioethics Institutions. This article was assisted in its writing by the use of ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence tool developed by OpenAI. 

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