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Session Submission Summary

Human Rights in Mexico – the challenges and opportunities of addressing torture and disappearance under a blanket of impunity

Fri, May 24, 4:00 to 5:30pm, TBA

Session Submission Type: Panel

Abstract

In the past years, Mexico displayed an alarming rate of human rights violations. 34,000 persons are missing and during 2015, 1,985 torture cases were reported . It is so normal, that 64% of all Mexicans believe they could be victims of torture if taken into custody.
The human rights agenda is monopolized by cases like the 43 students’ disappearance in Ayotzinapa, mass graves in several states and the collusion between drug cartels and politicians that preyed on innocent civilians.
National and international pressure is mounting on the government of Mexico (GOM), to protect its citizens from these horrific practices. In 2017, the approval of both General Laws on the Prevention of Torture and on Disappearance offered hope for access to truth, justice and reparations. However, the high levels of impunity, the lack of autonomous investigations, victims’ stigma, as well as poor institutional capacity and corruption are reason for skepticism.
While these laws are positive, they not enough. There is a need for improved registries, stronger civil society, innovative investigation techniques, increased civil society participation in those investigations, and prevention tools.
The United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) EnfoqueDH Activity implemented by Chemonics International Inc. in Mexico is working with civil society and the GOM to implement policies that prevent, address and eradicate these violations.
This paper will examine Mexico’s challenges and opportunities to eradicate torture and disappearance, to guarantee victims’ access to truth and justice, and to guarantee that these crimes are never repeated.

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