OHCHR in Mexico

Profile

OHCHR-Mexico promotes and protects human rights, through the monitoring of human rights situations, technical assistance and advisory services to the Mexican State, collaboration with civil society and victims’ organizations, and the dissemination of information on human rights.

Achievements

• OHCHR-Mexico has played a key role in the adoption of the General Laws on Disappearances and on Torture in 2017, and supporting authorities and victims' groups in 17 states, six of which have already adopted state-level laws on disappearances. The Office has also supported efforts to improve forensic capacity at a national and state-level, including in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• OHCHR-Mexico has documented cases of torture, including cases of sexual and gender base violence, of persons facing criminal charges, and its advocacy has contributed to the acquittal and release of several of these victims.
• In 2019, OHCHR-Mexico conducted a comprehensive assessment of the federal Protection Mechanism for Human Rights Defenders and Journalists. 104 recommendations were provided by OHCHR to authorities related to the strengthening of the Mechanism, which were all accepted. Work by OHCHR to counter criminalization of human rights defenders has contributed to the acquittal and release of at least 33 defenders during 2019.
• With the support of OHCHR-Mexico, several indigenous communities have strengthened their capacities to demand adequate consultation processes on issues that affect them.
• OHCHR-Mexico has cooperated with more than 180 authorities in the development of human rights indicators, as well as of Human Rights Action Plans and other public policies concerning human rights.
• Through its external communication work, OHCHR-Mexico has been able to increase its outreach to a wider range of audiences. In seven years, the Facebook fan page grew 3,500 per cent and the Twitter account 1,600 per cent.
• OHCHR-Mexico has supported the strengthening of the State's capacity to investigate and prosecute feminicides and ensure access to sexual and reproductive services for women and girls.
• OHCHR-Mexico has, together with authorities and civil society, included Business and Human Rights on the public agenda. The Office has also kick started discussions to promote Human Rights Due Diligence amongst a wide range of companies.
• OHCHR-Mexico has collaborated with the Supreme Court of Justice in the development of a searching engine tool that facilitates the use of international human rights standards in rulings.

Partners and Donors

Partners: Government of Mexico, Federal and State Congresses, Judicial Power, National and State Human Rights Institutions, civil society, UN agencies, international and regional organizations.

Donors: European Union, MPTF, MacArthur Foundation and Ford Foundation.

UN Human Rights Focus Areas

Thematic pillars

• Mechanisms: Increasing implementation of the international human rights mechanisms outcomes
• Development: Integrating human rights in sustainable development
• Accountability: Strengthening rule of law and accountability for human rights violations
• Non-discrimination: Enhancing equality and countering discrimination
• Participation: Enhancing & protecting civic space and people’s participation

Shifts

• Prevention
• Civic space
• Global constituency
• People on the move
• Inequalities

Spotlight populations

• Women
• Persons with disabilities

Last reviewed: November 2020