Introduction
The services provided by Mexico’s National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) and local human rights organizations have experienced contrasting trends between 2021 and 2024, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi).
CNDH vs. Local Organizations: A Comparative Analysis
In 2024, the CNDH and Public Human Rights Entities (OPDH) collectively offered 379,680 immediate and complementary attention services. Of these, 33.8% were provided by the CNDH and 66.2% by state entities.
- CNDH Services: The CNDH’s services decreased by 35.8% in 2024 compared to 2023, dropping from 200,099 to 128,420.
- OPDH Services: OPDH services increased by 14.3% in the same period, rising from 219,866 to 251,260.
Types of Attention Provided
In 2024, integral advisory and orientation accounted for the majority of human rights defense actions, totaling 217,604. The CNDH contributed 55,636 advisories while state entities provided 161,968.
- Leading States: The states with the most cases were Ciudad de México (48,513), Nuevo León (9,388), Puebla (9,597), and Nuevo León (9,388).
Following advisory, fieldwork and accompanying actions totaled 21,567. Of these, 29% (6,239) were handled by the CNDH and 71% (15,328) by OPDH, with Zacatecas, Nuevo León, and Ciudad de México leading the charge.
Missing Persons and Intervention
In 2024, the CNDH did not report any actions related to searching for missing persons (1,340 actions), while OPDH provided attention psychologically or psychosocially (4,819 services).
However, the CNDH played a central role in requesting collaboration and intervention from other authorities. Out of 56,653 cases, the CNDH handled 59% (33,497).
Budget
Inegi’s census also reveals a budget reduction for the CNDH. At constant 2018 prices, the national organization exercised a 17.3% smaller budget in 2024 compared to the previous year, while OPDH experienced a slight 1.4% increase.
- CNDH Budget: The CNDH exercised 1,417 million pesos in 2024.
- OPDH Budget: OPDH exercised 2,546 million pesos in 2024, with Mexico City (19.8%) and the State of Mexico (11.8%) accounting for 31.6% of the total.
Human Rights Violations
According to Inegi’s document, 142,391 presumptive human rights violations were recorded in complaint files opened by the CNDH and OPDH in 2024.
- Federal vs. State Violations: 26,597 violations were reported in the federal domain, while 115,794 were reported in the state domain.
- Decrease: These figures represent a 13.3% decrease for the CNDH and an 8.1% decrease for OPDH compared to 2023.
The most frequent presumptive violation in the federal domain was the failure to provide medical attention (18.1% of records). In state domains, violations of the legal principle in public function performance (14%) and inadequate or denied public service provision, as well as arbitrary detentions, were predominant.
Moreover, legal defense saw an increase: 102 actions of unconstitutionality were promoted before the Supreme Court, a 7.4% rise from 2023. Additionally, 7,158 precautionary or protective measures were requested, marking a 17.9% increase, primarily by state entities.
Key Questions and Answers
- Q: What trends have CNDH and local human rights organizations experienced between 2021-2024?
A: CNDH services have declined, while local organizations’ services have increased.
- Q: What types of attention did the CNDH and OPDH primarily offer in 2024?
A: Integral advisory and orientation made up the majority of human rights defense actions, with the CNDH contributing 55,636 advisories and OPDH providing 161,968.
- Q: How did the CNDH and OPDH handle cases related to missing persons in 2024?
A: The CNDH did not report any actions related to searching for missing persons, while OPDH provided psychological or psychosocial attention.
- Q: What was the budget situation for CNDH and OPDH in 2024?
A: The CNDH experienced a 17.3% budget reduction, while OPDH saw a 1.4% increase.
- Q: What were the most common presumptive human rights violations in 2024?
A: The most frequent violation in the federal domain was the failure to provide medical attention, while state domains predominantly saw violations of legal principles and inadequate public service provision.
