Universal Periodic Review 31: Mexico
This UK statement was delivered during the 31st session of the Universal Period Review during the discussion of Mexico's Human Rights Record on 7 November 2018.
The Universal Periodic Review takes place at the Palais des Nations in Geneva
The UK welcomes the Mexican Government’s engagement on improving human rights and the implementation of a new adversarial criminal justice system. The passing of the “General Law to Prevent, Investigate, and Punish Torture” and the “General Law on Enforced Disappearances” are also positive steps. We urge Mexico to ensure that all efforts are taken to promptly put these laws into practice.
We remain concerned about limitations to freedom of expression, and violence against journalists and human rights defenders. We urge Mexico to implement recommendations by international human rights organisations to address these limitations.
We recommend:
1) Increasing efforts to tackle impunity and corruption nationwide through the establishment of an advisory council to strengthen investigations and increase accountability for serious crimes and grave human rights violations, including those committed by public officials.
2) Creating an autonomous, accountable and fully independent National Prosecutor’s Office with the technical capacity to ensure transparent investigations.
3) Strengthening the Anti-Trafficking Committees’ and Specialised Units’ human and financial resources to respond more effectively to cases of trafficking in persons.