Summary of ""Protocolo mochila de paz y prevención para escuelas de nivel básico y media superior"""

Overview

Purpose: Present and explain the “Peace and Prevention Backpack” protocol for basic and upper‑secondary schools in the State of Mexico — a preventive, rights‑based procedure for periodically checking students’ backpacks to protect the integrity, safety and well‑being of the school community.

Orientation: The protocol is explicitly preventive (not punitive), consensual, transparent and guided by human‑rights and child‑centered principles. It is implemented by a multi‑actor school committee including parents/guardians, school authorities and optional supporting observers (e.g., human rights bodies). The protocol was published in the Official Gazette (effective the business day after signing, May 15).

Key definitions

Peace backpack: A bag whose contents do not pose a safety or health risk. Typical contents: school supplies (pencils, crayons, rulers), books, notebooks, lunchboxes, medical assistance devices, and other personal/educational items. Students show these voluntarily on review days.
Prevention backpack: A bag suspected of containing objects/substances that pose a risk to physical, mental or emotional health or school safety. Examples: knives/bladed weapons, firearms, toy guns that could alarm, explosives, solvents, vapes/e‑cigarettes, drugs/psychotropic substances, alcohol, tobacco, stimulant drinks, pornographic material.

Guiding values and principles

Values: equity, equality, respect for rights.
Principles: best interests of the child; non‑discrimination; inclusion; substantive equality; child/adolescent participation; assumption of responsibility; pro‑persona (human‑rights priority); respect; access to justice; protection of developmental rights; right to life and a life free from violence.

Who participates (roles)

School authority: director, academic/administrative sub‑directors, or highest available school authority; supervisors as appropriate.
Peace & Prevention Backpack Committee: president (parent/guardian), secretary (school authority designated by principal—teacher), three parent “vocals/allies.” Committee members must be available, committed and agree to the protocol’s principles and confidentiality.
Supporting/observing authorities (optional, by prior authorization): Human Rights Commission, municipal ombudsmen, relevant municipal/state agencies.
School Participation Council: involved in convening and oversight.
Parents/guardians: sign informed consent annually; participate as committee members and are notified when incidents occur.
Students: informed participants with a right to privacy and voluntary cooperation.

Full methodology — Step‑by‑step procedure

Before the school year / Preparation (Stage 2)
- Convene the School Participation Council to present protocol goals and human‑rights safeguards.
- Launch calls for participation and awareness‑raising among parents, guardians, students and staff.
- Obtain informed consent forms from parents/guardians at the start of each school year (authorizing or not authorizing backpack review).
- Designate and register members of the Peace & Prevention Backpack Committee (president, secretary, three parent allies).
- Run an awareness campaign with educational materials explaining purpose (prevention), items considered safe vs risky, and core values.
- Publicize communications for peaceful coexistence and display materials visibly in/around school.
Installation of the Committee (Stage 1 and start of Stage 3)
- Verify committee installation with signed minutes and registration.
- Ensure members understand purpose, roles, confidentiality and procedural rules.
Organization & logistics (Implementation stage)
- School authority designates a private, secure and dignified review space (e.g., office, free room, library).
- Provide logistical materials: tables, trays, containers, documentation forms.
- Publicly introduce the committee to selected student groups before each review.
- Define a consensual working policy grounded in respect for dignity, privacy and rights.
Equitable selection & scheduling
- Apply the protocol non‑discriminatorily and inclusively.
- Use a rotating schedule so all groups of the same level are reviewed periodically (normally no more than once per month per group).
- Allow extraordinary, unscheduled reviews only under exceptional, well‑founded suspicion of risk or at the committee/school authority request.
Execution of the review (detailed rules)
- Only parents/guardians and committee members perform the visual review; teachers must avoid physical contact or body searches.
- Ask students respectfully to voluntarily show backpack contents using assertive communication.
- Committee conducts visual inspection; if risk is suspected, student is asked to remove items one by one onto a table or clean tray and show the empty backpack.
- Committee members should not handle students’ personal items — students place items on the tray.
- If no risky items are found: student repacks and continues activities.
- If a risky object/substance is found:
  - Ask the student to voluntarily hand it over; if refusal, treat the backpack as a “prevention backpack.”
  - Secure the backpack (do not handle the hazardous item) and place it in a safe location until authorities arrive.
  - Record the event in a detailed incident report (minutes and description).
  - Notify parents/guardians immediately; summon them to mediate and resolve the situation.
  - Request intervention from relevant authorities as appropriate (Human Rights Commission, Attorney General’s Office for Protection of Children and Adolescents, Ministry of Health, municipal ombudsman, etc.).
  - If the object presents imminent danger, secure the area and await authorities; provide temporary materials so the student can continue classes while the situation is managed.
Student refusal
- Respect a student’s decision not to show contents; do not condition access to classes.
- Treat the backpack as a prevention backpack, secure it, and notify parents/guardians for mediation.
Documentation and reporting (closing actions)
- Committee prepares a detailed record of facts and objects found; minutes must be signed and delivered to the School Participation Council and school authority.
- The record must include: place, date, institution data, committee members present, description of development and actions taken, description of objects, steps for follow up, and signatures.
- Committee safeguards documentation and hands materials to the school authority, which must file them in an orderly folder for follow‑up.
Post‑incident follow‑up and support
- Channeling: parents/guardians are responsible for obtaining specialized care for students as needed and must keep the school informed.
- Pedagogical support: students found with prohibited items should receive pedagogical and, if appropriate, psychological support.
- Guidance strategies: help students understand school rules, promote peaceful coexistence and involve parents in reinforcing measures.
Continuous improvement (Stage 4)
- Establish ongoing evaluation mechanisms and annual reports on implementation results.
- Management team and committee analyze outcomes, document observations in committee minutes, identify areas for improvement and make adjustments.
- Share results with the school community to ensure transparency and build trust.

Annexes / Required formats

Annex 1: Institutional directory for addressing risk situations — school data, organizational chart, emergency contacts.
Annex 2: Detailed minutes template for the initial meeting explaining the protocol to parents/students.
Annex 3: Informed consent form for parents/guardians (authorize or not authorizing backpack reviews); includes abbreviated student name and ID copy for privacy.
Annex 4: Informed participation form for students (for older students; preschool supported by teacher/parent).
Annex 5: Authorization letter for teaching/administrative/support staff or visitors who participate as committee members.
Annex 6: Example of an approval act documenting application of the protocol (signatures, agreements).
Annex 7: Detailed record of facts and objects found during implementation — required after each application.
Annex 8: Checklist example contrasting Peace Backpack contents vs Prevention Backpack contents, plus metadata (school name, date, shift).

Operational constraints and prohibitions

No body searches, removal of clothing, or physical contact with students.
Students must not be coerced; cooperation must be voluntary.
Reviews should be periodic, reasonable and non‑discriminatory.
Handling of hazardous items by school staff is prohibited; if a hazardous item is present, secure the bag and notify authorities.

Administrative details and validity

The protocol takes effect the business day after signing (signed May 15).
The Secretary of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation and the undersecretaries for basic and upper secondary education interpret and advise on the protocol.
Annexes and the full protocol text are published in the Official Gazette (search “protocolo mochila de paz” to retrieve annexes).

Practical notes and recommendations

The protocol is a preventive strategy intended to build peaceful, safe school environments.
Schools must adapt annexes to their local needs while following core principles.
Informational materials and training will be shared with schools before and at the start of the school year.
Contact phone numbers and social media were provided for follow‑up support (CONEBI / school wellbeing office).

Speakers and sources mentioned

Miguel Ángel Hernández Espel — Secretary of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (State of Mexico)
Dr. Elsa Fuerte Robles — Director General, School Council for Well‑being (CONEBI)
Teacher Consuelo González Robledo — Subdirectorate of Culture of Peace (presenter of the protocol)
Teacher Jessie / Jessica — presenter/host
School Council for Well‑being (CONEBI) — institutional organizer
Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (State of Mexico) — issuing institution
Human Rights Commission of the State of Mexico — supporting/observing authority
Municipal ombudsmen — supporting authorities
Attorney General’s Office for the Protection of Girls, Boys and Adolescents (Fiscalía) — possible intervening authority
Ministry of Health — possible intervening authority
School Participation Council — local governance body involved in convening and oversight
CASEM and references to “FOMS”/chat issues — referenced in Q&A/chat (support/contact channels)
Official Gazette (Gaceta Oficial) — publication where protocol and annexes are available (dated May 15)

Note: This summary includes both individual presenters identified in the original presentation and the institutional bodies mentioned as participants, observers or responsible authorities.