Background on the Mexican Military’s Involvement in Human Rights Violations
The Mexican military has been implicated in numerous human rights abuses since the start of the “war on drugs” declared during Felipe Calderón’s presidency in 2006. Recent rulings by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (Corte IDH) and recommendations from the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) highlight ongoing issues with military force abuse.
The Case of Ernestina Ascencio Rosario (2007)
In 2007, the Corte IDH found the Mexican state guilty for the death of Ernestina Ascencio Rosario, a 73-year-old indigenous Nahua woman from Veracruz. Ernestina was sexually assaulted by Mexican military members in the Sierra de Zongolica, Veracruz, amidst military deployment resulting from the 2006 security strategy.
The Corte IDH concluded that the assault constituted torture, and the state failed to provide Ernestina with proper medical care. These omissions led to her death, and authorities denied her family access to justice under equal conditions while perpetuating gender, age, and indigenous origin stereotypes.
The Case of Leidy and Alexa (2025)
The Center for Human Rights ProDH (ProDH) reported that the CNDH held the Mexican military responsible for the deaths of Leidy and Alexa, aged 7 and 11, respectively, during an anti-crime operation in May 2025.
The CNDH recommendation 201VG/2025, the first for serious violations during Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration, acknowledged that the girls were arbitrarily killed using excessive military force. It also recognized violations of the girls’ rights, personal integrity of survivors, and family rights.
ProDH warned that this case reflects the risks associated with military deployment in public security tasks and the lack of effective non-recurrence measures. The organization noted that the family had previously suffered military abuses in 2008, indicating an unresolved cycle of violence and impunity.
CNDH Recommendations and Military Involvement in Human Rights Violations
From 1990 to 2025, the CNDH has issued numerous recommendations for both ordinary and grave human rights violations. According to the CNDH’s National Alert System, over 4,300 recommendations were made, with 784 addressing grave violations.
Analyzing management periods, the highest number of recommendations was recorded during 2019-2024 (not necessarily indicating when the acts occurred), with 1,210 recommendations, or 42.83% of the historical total.
- 2014-2019: 430 recommendations (15.22%)
- 2009-2014: 416 recommendations (14.73%)
- 1999-2009: 567 recommendations (20.07%)
- 2024-2029 (ongoing): New segregations have begun.
Among the most frequently violated rights in recommendations are: legal and security juridical right, personal integrity right, right to life, liberty personal right, health protection right, and dignified and equal treatment right.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main issue highlighted by these cases? The ongoing human rights abuses committed by the Mexican military, particularly excessive force and denial of justice.
- Who are Ernestina Ascencio Rosario, Leidy, and Alexa? Ernestina was a 73-year-old indigenous Nahua woman sexually assaulted by Mexican military members in 2007, leading to her death due to lack of proper medical care. Leidy and Alexa were two young girls killed by the military in 2025 during an anti-crime operation.
- What did the Corte IDH and CNDH find in these cases? The Corte IDH found the Mexican state guilty of Ernestina’s death due to torture and lack of medical care. The CNDH held the military responsible for Leidy and Alexa’s deaths, citing excessive force and violations of their rights.
- What are the broader implications of these cases? These cases reflect the risks associated with military deployment in public security tasks and highlight the need for effective non-recurrence measures.
- How many recommendations has the CNDH issued since 1990? The CNDH has issued over 4,300 recommendations, with 784 addressing grave human rights violations.
