MEXICO CITY (AP) -- President Felipe Calderon praised a new law that obligates federal and local authorities to prevent, punish and eradicate violence against women, and he promised a "relentless" fight against gender-related abuse.

Officially, the law is the first federal measure combating domestic violence and other abuse against women. The law aims to guarantee women's "access to a life free of violence that favors their development and well-being according to the principles of equality and nondiscrimination."

Among its objectives is to have the government-backed National Women's Institute conduct education campaigns focusing on women's rights and informing women of the institutions and laws they can resort to for protection.