Mexico's human rights record blasted

Despite bid to combat violence, torture, sex abuse, arbitrary arrests on the rise, watchdog report states

Feb 11, 2009 04:30 AM

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Olivia Ward
FOREIGN AFFAIRS REPORTER

Mexico's human rights efforts are falling short of its good intentions, says a report by Amnesty International.

"There is ingrained impunity for human rights violations," said Rupert Knox, a Mexico researcher with the London-based organization. "The government talks about rights in general terms. But what's lacking is a dynamic commitment that has some impact on the ground."

Arbitrary detention, torture, sexual violence and unlawful killings by security officials have escalated during government security operations to combat violent criminal gangs, said the report, tabled this week as the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva reviews Mexico's human rights performance.

Although the government's list of "positive initiatives and reforms is good news," there was no information about how to end the rights violations, and the impunity that goes with them, it said.

Mexico has not commented on the report, but it has taken steps to reform its police forces by creating new procedures for training and screening police recruits. More....