The High Commissioner signed a Technical Project with the Government of Mexico

22 April 2002



On Monday 22 April 2002, Mary Robinson, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and Ms. Mariclaire Acosta, Mexico’s Under-Secretary of Foreign Affairs in the area of Democracy and Human Rights, signed the second phase of a technical cooperation programme for México.

The first phase of the technical cooperation programme was signed by the President of Mexico, Mr. Vicente Fox, and the High Commissioner in Oaxaca Mexico on 2nd December 2000. The initial phase, completed in September 2001, included 4 components in the areas of the administration of justice and national initiatives on human rights and indigenous rights, with all four being developed jointly with governmental institutions at national and local level, human rights institutions, NGOs, indigenous organizations and the academic sector.

All of the actors involved in the first phase agreed on the need to continue the technical co-operation programme. The second phase is the result of a wide and inclusive exercise by the Mexican government, OHCHR and other UN agencies established in Mexico, CNDH and NGOs, making it possible to formulate a new programme that will have the active support of all the different parties.

In October 2001, a Mexican delegation visited OHCHR headquarters in order to identify the priorities of the technical co-operation for 2002-2003. As a result of the consultations, the parties reached several understandings that served as a basis for the design of this project.

As a result, the Project for 2002 would allow for activities in the following areas:

a) A Diagnosis of the human rights situation in Mexico, which will serve as a basis for the design and adoption of a new National Programme on Human Rights.
b) The strengthening of the CNDH.
c) The fight against torture and ill treatment (medical and forensic examination of torture. Follow up to activities undertaken during Phase I).
d) The rights of indigenous peoples (training on UN and regional mechanisms of human rights. Follow up to activities undertaken during Phase I).



The beneficiaries of the activities to be implemented during 2002-2003 are:

a) Governmental institutions, at national and local levels, as they will be part of the identification, development and coordination of the new State Policy on Human Rights. In addition, their representatives will benefit from the training on medical and forensic examination of cases of torture.
b) Federal and State institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, as their capacity, independence and autonomy will be strengthened. Their representatives will also benefit from the training on medical and forensic examination of cases of torture.
c) Mexican NGOs who will benefit directly from the activities implemented and their prominence will be significantly elevated vis-a-vis Mexican authorities and OHCHR.
d) Academic institutions as they will be provided with the essential tools to disseminate the model procedures on the medical and forensic examination of cases of torture throughout the academic sector.
e) Indigenous organizations
f) Society in general.



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