Mexico's National Human Rights Commission Report for 2011

Mexican Human Rights?.. all three of those words in the same sentence?

Betcha Joe's name is in there somewhere.

 

 

 

 

 

Presidency of the Republic

Mexican President Felipe Calderón attended the delivery of the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) Activity Report 2011.

During his speech, the president declared that the federal government and the CNDH have worked to strengthen democracy and the development of the country on the basis of respect for human rights. He added that, as part of the effort to guarantee, protect and defend the human right to security, his administration has implemented key reforms such as the Constitutional Reform of Human Rights and the Law of Injunction. He explained that changes have been made to the system of justice that have been achieved through the approval of the reform of the criminal justice system, which permitted the transition from an inquisitorial to an accusatory, actual presence system. Among the new laws created, he mentioned the Law of Migration and Refugees.

The president went on to say that one of the main challenges facing Mexico is crime. He explained that the intervention of federal forces in various states in the country responds to an expressed demand for assistance from local authorities. He declared that federal forces have assumed their constitutional and legal duty by obeying and enforcing the law in keeping with the law, and that in the event of human rights violations the government has taken legal action in courts and strongly condemned these actions.

The president declared that the National Security Strategy has entered a new stage, focusing on human rights protection and the reinforcement of security and justice institutions at all levels, particularly the local level. To this end, a number of human rights measures have been implemented and supervised:

• The establishment and updating of guidelines and protocols on the legitimate use of force and arrests, and the preservation of evidence and custody chains by federal forces. 
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• Assistance for those who have been injured by criminals through Provictima, which has attended to nearly 4,000 people in the 100 days since it began operating. 
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• Full compliance with the recommendations of the National Human Rights Commission. Of the over 20,000 complaints received by the Commission, 95 recommendations have been issued, 75 of which concern federal government offices, which will be complied with swiftly.In regard to the General Recommendation on Illegal Searches, the president instructed federal forces and the Public Prosecutor's agents to adhere strictly to these guidelines. 
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• Full compliance with the rulings of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and the Inter-American Human Rights Commission. 
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• Intensification of training for all federal institutions regarding security. 
  
• Improved protection for journalists and human rights activists. He explained that the Mechanism for the Protection of Journalists, made-up of federal government and CNDH offices, in which the United Nations' participates, has dealt with the 11 cases presented and provides protection for those affected. 
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• Modernization of the legal framework and adjustment of the legislation to the new constitutional standards, such as reforming the legislation and the military courts so that members of the armed forces who commit crimes involving the forced disappearance of people, rape or torture are judged by civil courts.

Lastly, the president confirmed his desire to work to achieve security until the last day of his administration, since this is crucial to achieving a fairer, more prosperous Mexico.

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Press Release: Presidency of the Republic, Mexico, D.F.; translation Presidency of the Republic