The dismissal of Sub-Secretary for Human Rights Mariclaire Acosta is a serious blow to the credibility of President Vicente Fox's human rights agenda, Human Rights Watch said today. Foreign Minister Luis Ernesto Derbez announced late Monday that he was firing Acosta and eliminating her post.
"By dismissing Mariclaire Acosta, Derbez has deprived the Mexican foreign ministry of its top human rights advocate and cast serious doubt on Fox's commitment to promoting human rights," said José Miguel Vivanco, executive director of the Americas Division of Human Rights Watch. "Fox should move quickly to repair the damage that has been done."
When Vicente Fox was elected in 2000, he promised to make human rights a top priority of his presidency. Mariclaire Acosta-who was brought into the new government by Derbez's predecessor, Jorge G. Castañeda-embodied this commitment to human rights more than any other official within the Fox administration.
A seasoned veteran of Mexico's human rights movement, Acosta earned a reputation as a dedicated and formidable advocate. She has played a central role in reshaping Mexico's approach to human rights since joining the Fox government. During her tenure, Mexico broke with its longstanding tradition of using the doctrine of national sovereignty to disregard or selectively apply international human rights norms. Instead, the country ratified numerous human rights treaties and sought to ensure that these norms were applied consistently in other countries as well. Mexico also displayed an unparalleled willingness to engage with international human rights monitors, by welcoming the permanent presence of a representative of the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, and working on a joint analysis of Mexico's human rights problems.
Human Rights Watch representatives met with President Fox in January 2003, shortly after he named Derbez to succeed Castañeda as foreign minister, and were assured that that human rights would remain a top priority of Mexico's foreign policy. Specifically, the Mexican officials said Acosta would play a central role within the administration.
"We were surprised and very disappointed to learn that Derbez had gone back on this commitment," said Vivanco. "It is now up to President Fox to reestablish control over Mexico's foreign policy and ensure that human rights remains among its top priorities."
