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UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defender, Mary Lawlor, warned Thursday that despite government efforts, structural challenges continue to undermine the safety of human rights defenders in Mexico, citing organized crime, state authorities, and business interests as driving forces behind ongoing attacks.
In a statement issued by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Lawlor said she had received “countless reports of serious attacks” against defenders throughout her six-year mandate and that concerns persist. She acknowledged that the Mexican government has taken measures to address the situation but said these efforts face deep-rooted obstacles.
Lawlor singled out the southern state of Chiapas as emblematic of the risks defenders face across the country. She cited the murders of Tzotzil indigenous priest Father Marcelo Pérez Pérez in 2024 and Maya Tsotsil defender Versaín Velasco García, repeated raids on the offices of the Fray Matías de Córdova Human Rights Centre, and serious insecurity faced by “madres buscadoras,” women who search for relatives who have been forcibly disappeared.
The special rapporteur called on federal, state, and municipal officials to reaffirm their commitment to working with human rights defenders and address root causes of injustice and inequality. She urged authorities to explore appropriate measures for arbitrarily detained defenders, formally recognize those searching for missing relatives as human rights defenders, and fully respect Indigenous rights, including the right to free, prior, and informed consent under International Labour Organization Convention 169.
The warning comes amid a broader pattern of documented threats to defenders and civic space in Mexico. According to international organization Front Line Defenders, Mexico ranked second worldwide in killings of human right defenders in 2024, with 32 cases recorded. In January, UN experts demanded truth and justice on the third anniversary of the enforced disappearance of human rights lawyer Ricardo Lagunes and indigenous leader Antonio Díaz in the state of Colima, calling on the government to comply with its international obligations to investigate the case and hold perpetrators accountable.
The UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances in April found strong indications that enforced disappearances in Mexico constitute crimes against humanity, citing approximately 72,000 unidentified human remains discovered by authorities and citizen search groups. The committee requested that the matter be referred to the UN General Assembly for consideration.
Mexico’s National Protection Mechanism for Human Rights Defenders and Journalists, established by Congress in 2012, has faced criticism from international bodies for insufficient funding and structural limitations. Lawlor previously called for the mechanism to be adequately resourced, stating that the lives of defenders may depend on it.
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In a statement issued by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Lawlor said she had received “countless reports of serious attacks” against defenders throughout her six-year mandate and that concerns persist. She acknowledged that the Mexican government has taken measures to address the situation but said these efforts face deep-rooted obstacles.
Lawlor singled out the southern state of Chiapas as emblematic of the risks defenders face across the country. She cited the murders of Tzotzil indigenous priest Father Marcelo Pérez Pérez in 2024 and Maya Tsotsil defender Versaín Velasco García, repeated raids on the offices of the Fray Matías de Córdova Human Rights Centre, and serious insecurity faced by “madres buscadoras,” women who search for relatives who have been forcibly disappeared.
The special rapporteur called on federal, state, and municipal officials to reaffirm their commitment to working with human rights defenders and address root causes of injustice and inequality. She urged authorities to explore appropriate measures for arbitrarily detained defenders, formally recognize those searching for missing relatives as human rights defenders, and fully respect Indigenous rights, including the right to free, prior, and informed consent under International Labour Organization Convention 169.
The warning comes amid a broader pattern of documented threats to defenders and civic space in Mexico. According to international organization Front Line Defenders, Mexico ranked second worldwide in killings of human right defenders in 2024, with 32 cases recorded. In January, UN experts demanded truth and justice on the third anniversary of the enforced disappearance of human rights lawyer Ricardo Lagunes and indigenous leader Antonio Díaz in the state of Colima, calling on the government to comply with its international obligations to investigate the case and hold perpetrators accountable.
The UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances in April found strong indications that enforced disappearances in Mexico constitute crimes against humanity, citing approximately 72,000 unidentified human remains discovered by authorities and citizen search groups. The committee requested that the matter be referred to the UN General Assembly for consideration.
Mexico’s National Protection Mechanism for Human Rights Defenders and Journalists, established by Congress in 2012, has faced criticism from international bodies for insufficient funding and structural limitations. Lawlor previously called for the mechanism to be adequately resourced, stating that the lives of defenders may depend on it.
The post UN expert warns Mexico faces persistent attacks on human rights defenders appeared first on JURIST - News.
Continue reading...
Note: We don't have any responsibilities about this news. Its been posted here by Feed Reader and we had no controls and checking on it. And because News posted here will be deleted automatically after 21 days, threads are closed so that no one spend time to post and discuss here. You can always check the source and discuss in their site.