A/HRC/11/37
the investigation and prosecution of these crimes by independent civilian authorities could
reverse the current situation. It urged the Government to end impunity.
621. The Social Service Agency of the Protestant Church in Germany stressed that
Mexico had accepted recommendations on the issue of human rights defenders, but was
concerned that recent acts had undermined those commitments, referring to two indigenous
human rights defenders from Guerrero who had disappeared, had been tortured and
executed. It stated that organizations had had to close their offices in Guerrero owing to
threats against them and that the Inter-American Court of Human Rights had granted
provisional protection measures to 107 human rights defenders, that had not been
effectively implemented. It requested that the Council urge Mexico to comply with the
recommendations to prevent, investigate and prosecute those responsible for human rights
violations and that a legal framework and governmental programme be established to
protect human rights defenders in Guerrero.
622. The Centre for Reproductive Rights recalled the 1,200 women victims of femicide
and the situation of thousands of women and girls suffering from regressive reforms that
criminalize abortion under any circumstance in 13 Mexican States. It stressed that access to
justice remained a mere hope for women. It supported the recommendations to bring State
and federal legislation in line with the general law for women’s access to a life free of
violence, and for all federal, State and municipal authorities to implement the law. It also
supported the recommendation that effective measures be taken to ensure that femicides
were duly investigated.
4.
Concluding remarks of the State under review
623. Mexico stressed that it had undertaken institutional mobilization and dialogue with
stakeholders for the current review, and underscored as positive elements of the process the
fact that all stakeholders had had a more comprehensive vision of human rights in Mexico;
the enhanced dialogue among national stakeholders; the provision of greater foundations to
the international vision of Mexico’s human rights situation; better focus for international
aid; and the fact that the current exercise had enhanced and complemented international
commitments.
624. Mexico agreed that combating impunity and effectiveness of the justice system were
the primary structural paragon for a positive transformation of the national system. The
constitutional reform of the public security and criminal justice system adopted by
Congress in 2008 had set a timetable of eight years for implementation. Mexico had
extended an invitation to the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and
lawyers.
625. Mexico reiterated the fact that organized crime was being fought with full respect
for human rights, greater professionalization of the police and with the legal and human
rights system monitoring and sanctioning violations in full operation. At the express request
of the civil authority, the participation of the armed forces was temporary, in a specific
geographical area, and purely provisional and supplementary.
626. Combating organized crime had worsened working conditions for journalists.
Mexico condemned their harassment and would establish appropriate mechanisms to
investigate and punish such aggressions. It particularly appreciated recommendations made
by non-governmental organizations in this respect.
627. Mexico referred Amnesty International to paragraph 36 of the supplementary report
on enhancing investigations relating to the murder of women in Ciudad Juarez. Responding
to comments by Human Rights Watch and others on the functioning of the military justice,
Mexico stressed that the Federal Government had accepted all the recommendations of the
national human rights commission. Mexico agreed with the comments on the
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GE.09-16766
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