Monday, February 6, 2012
Mexico's National Human Rights Commission Report for 2011
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Full compliance with the rulings of the Inter-American
Court of Human Rights and the Inter-American Human Rights Commission.
- 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.
- 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
