Sexual Bribery: First Steps to Criminalize this Form of Corruption in Mexico

The study of sextortion as a form of corruption has gained scholarly and institutional attention in recent years, by both international organizations and academics communities. Nevertheless, in Latin America, and particularly in Mexico, this phenomenon has not been addressed in an appropriate manner, since the term has usually been confused with other phenomena, such as digital sextortion, sexual harassment, and sexual bullying. This conceptual ambiguity has impeded both normative clarity and policy intervention. The primary objective of this study is to construct an analytical framework to identify and understand sextortion as a form of corruption, toward formulating a proposal for a legislative reform to the legal framework in Mexico, thus laying the groundwork to be classified as sexual bribery. The research adopts a qualitative methodological approach consisting of a systematic review of the specialized bibliography, legal frameworks, and documents issued by international organizations to identify theoretical approaches and advances in research addressing this phenomenon. The findings reveal the absence of a specific typification of sexual bribery in the Federal Criminal Code in Mexico, which undermines its prevention, prosecution, and punishment.