UN Human Rights Office in Mexico Calls for Action on Torture Awareness Day
On the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Mexico urged the Mexican judiciary to effectively commit to eradicating torture and dignifying victims. This call to action gains significance amid discussions on potential judicial reform led by the federal government.
Context and Relevance
The UN OHCHR’s statement emphasizes the need to address structural impunity that has long prevailed in Mexico’s criminal justice system to effectively eradicate torture and advance access to justice. The organization warns against combating insecurity and violence through further acts of injustice.
Key Demands and Recommendations
- Exclusion of Illegally Obtained Evidence: The UN OHCHR insists that the judiciary must completely exclude any evidence obtained through torture or human rights violations. This is only possible if judges act independently, free from improper pressures or interference, and possess the necessary technical skills to immediately and impartially review detentions, investigations, and criminal proceedings.
- Judges as Human Rights Guardians: The organization highlights the role of control judges as human rights defenders from the early stages of criminal proceedings. They are urged to meticulously verify the legality of detentions and ensure that individuals accepting plea bargains do so voluntarily, with full information and adequate legal representation, without any coercion.
- Respect for Progression in Human Rights: Amidst the ongoing judicial reform discussions, the UN OHCHR stresses that any proposed changes must uphold the principle of progressive human rights, strengthen the exclusion of illicit evidence, and professionalize investigations.
Support for Vulnerable Groups
The UN OHCHR reaffirmed its support and solidarity with torture victims, particularly those historically marginalized due to physical appearance, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, or socioeconomic status.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main focus of the UN OHCHR’s statement? The primary concern is eradicating torture and ensuring victims’ dignity, while addressing structural impunity in Mexico’s criminal justice system.
- What specific actions does the UN OHCHR recommend for the Mexican judiciary? The organization calls for excluding illegally obtained evidence, ensuring independent and skilled judges, and respecting progression in human rights during judicial reform discussions.
- Which groups does the UN OHCHR specifically support? The organization extends its support to historically marginalized victims based on physical appearance, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, or socioeconomic status.
