Background on the Advisory Council and its Relevance
The Advisory Council of the Protection Mechanism for Human Rights Defenders and Journalists has requested a working meeting with Mexico’s Secretary of the Interior, Rosa Icela Rodríguez. This council plays a crucial role in advocating for the safety and security of human rights defenders and journalists facing increasing threats in Mexico.
Key Issues and Demands
In a statement, the council highlighted several pressing concerns and proposed actions to address them:
- Reviewing Legal Frameworks: The council aims to prioritize the monitoring of state efforts to amend legal frameworks that undermine freedom of expression.
- Strengthening Risk Monitoring: They seek to enhance the monitoring and evaluation of risks faced by journalists and human rights defenders.
- Collective Protection Measures: The council emphasizes the need for collective protective measures, which have been lacking in the national security agenda.
Building on Previous Discussions
The upcoming meeting would continue the dialogue initiated in a previous gathering on February 12, where the council discussed ensuring sufficient budgetary resources, strengthening preventive protection, and establishing a permanent working route with the Secretariat of the Interior.
Concerns and Recommendations
Throughout 2025, the council has closely followed cases and procedures requiring more timely and decisive actions from the Protection Mechanism to ensure the safety and protection of beneficiaries.
- Return or Relocation Plans: The council is concerned about the lack of proper return or relocation plans for individuals whose refuge measures are revoked.
- Political Measures Integration: They advocate for the integration of political measures into protection plans.
- Visibility and Recognition: The council stresses the importance of recognizing and highlighting the work of journalists and human rights defenders across all states in Mexico.
Call for Active Participation from Interior Ministry Authorities
The council urges the authorities of the Mecanismo’s Governing Board—comprising federal entities like the Interior Ministry, Foreign Affairs, and Security—to actively participate in working sessions by providing analyses, opinions, and recommendations to improve protective measures.
Council Members’ Confidence
Signatories, including Andrés Solís Álvarez, Araceli Salcedo Jiménez, Verónica Espinosa Villegas, and Sara Méndez Morales, expressed optimism that the meeting with the Secretary of the Interior would lead to concrete and transparent agreements to strengthen public protection policies and ensure accountability towards beneficiaries, organizations, and media outlets supported by the Protection Mechanism.
Current Statistics
As per official data from January to August 2025, there were 23 beneficiaries of the Protection Mechanism (13 journalists and 10 human rights defenders), marking a 92.83% decrease in just two years, down from 321 beneficiaries in 2023.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is the Advisory Council of the Protection Mechanism? It’s a group advocating for human rights defenders and journalists facing threats in Mexico.
- What are the council’s primary concerns? The council is worried about legal frameworks undermining freedom of expression, insufficient risk monitoring, and the lack of collective protective measures.
- What actions does the council propose? The council seeks to review legal frameworks, strengthen risk monitoring, and implement collective protection measures.
- Why is this meeting significant? The meeting aims to build on previous discussions, address concerns, and foster active participation from interior ministry authorities to improve protective measures.
