Human Rights in Mexico: A Policy of Impunity

An array of violent human rights abuses committed by public security units have become institutionalized in Mexican society. Americas Watch concludes that this pattern of excessive violence can only mean that either the Mexican government has adopted a policy of tolerating such behavior, or it has lost control over its police, security and prosecutorial agencies. Human Rights in Mexico documents cases of killings, torture and other mistreatment by the police during criminal investigations and especially by an elite squad of officers of the Federal Judicial Police in Mexico’s efforts to curb narcotics trafficking. Other violations of civil liberties in the criminal justice context including disappearances; election-related violence; violence in land disputes; abuses directed against independent unions; and violations of freedom of the press. If Mexico rigorously adhered to its own constitution and statutes, its human rights record would be exemplary. However, in this report Americas Watch concludes that it continues to lack the political will to achieve real reforms in the promotion and protection of human rights.

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