New cooperation agreement with Mexico in the field of human rights

High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour signed a new agreement with the Government of Mexico last month to extend OHCHR’s presence in the country, and continue joint efforts for the promotion and protection of human rights.

At the end of her four-day visit to Mexico where she signed the new agreement, High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbours stressed that “on the international scene, Mexico is a force for good in the human rights agenda. Its very wide ratification of the international human rights treaties, with ratification of the latest treaty against disappearances imminent, places the country in the forefront of the campaign I’m leading in this 60th year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to push for universal adherence to these treaties”.

The first agreement between the Government of Mexico and OHCHR was signed in 2002 and provided for technical assistance and the establishment of the UN human rights organisation in the country. Since then, OHCHR-Mexico facilitated the National Diagnosis of the Human Rights Situation in Mexico as well as the subsequent National Human Rights Programme (NHRP). Both achievements were congratulated for including the various strata of rights holders and duty bearers, and for the independence and the transparency of their processes.

When signing the new agreement, Mexican President Felipe Calderón said: “I would like to reaffirm the profound commitment of my Government to human rights protection and to the observance of human rights international standards. The agreement ratifies the commitment to the thorough respect of human rights in my country. I am convinced that the liveliness of our democracy is based on their complete relevance.”

In recent years, OHCHR-Mexico has made noticeable advances. It established close relations with the Federal Congress, the legislative branch of the Mexican Government, promoting constitutional reform and harmonization of national legislation with international human rights standards. The office cooperated in training judges and providing counsel to the Supreme Court of Justice on key human rights issues. OHCHR-Mexico also started proceeding to a second round of human rights diagnoses and human rights action plan at state level, starting with the state of Guerrero and Mexico City federal district. Furthermore, it endeavoured to empower indigenous and women’s organisations, with the help of civil society.

When it began its democratic transition in 2000, Mexico ended 70 years of single party rule. Despite having ratified numerous international human rights treaties in previous years, a number of human rights have not been protected nor guaranteed for the population.

OHCHR can foster Mexico’s process of fulfilment of its international obligations by assisting the government with legal reforms, development of public policies and government programmes. It can also aid in promoting the participation of civil society, public human rights institutions and academia in consolidating the progress made and jumping remaining hurdles that hinder the country’s compliance to international human rights treaties.

“I am very happy that the Government of Mexico and I have reached agreement to continue the long-standing cooperation we have enjoyed through the extension of the agreement between us. This Agreement provides clear definitions and priorities for the continuation of my Office’s support to national efforts in promoting and protecting human rights. I am encouraged that Mexico's leadership internationally on human rights is also paralleled by its openness to move forward on the domestic agenda” said Louise Arbour. She added “I would also like to underscore the leadership role that Mexico played as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council, particularly while holding its Presidency, during a delicate but successful period of negotiations on the new working mechanisms and modalities for the functioning of the Council”.