Mexico: UN experts welcome Inter-American Commission on Human Rights report on disappeared, executed and tortured students

GENEVA (9 September 2015) .- A group of UN human rights experts* today welcomed the report of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on the enforced disappearances, executions and torture of students of Ayotzinapa in the state of Guerrero in Mexico in September 2014 and encouraged the Government of Mexico to implement all of its recommendations.

The UN experts acknowledged the political will of the Mexican Government, which supported the creation of the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts of the Inter-American Commission, the Government’s readiness to extend the Group’s mandate in order to complete its work and its recognition that the report is "essential for the investigation".

The UN experts highlighted the conviction of the IGIE that "the 43 students were not cremated in the waste dump of Cocula", as argued by the official version of events. They also echoed the IGIE’s call for a "general reassessment" of the investigation in light of the deficits referred to in its report in areas such as the search for the students, the scattered investigations, the qualification of the facts, and allegations of mistreatment and torture.

In light of the new findings, the UN experts argued that the investigation into the matter should be thorough and delve into the different levels of participation of all authorities who by action or omission were involved in the events of 26 and 27 September 2014. It should also delve into the progress made by investigations and the actions taken following the events. In this regard, the experts agreed on the need to "investigate all officials who have obstructed the investigation of the case of Ayotzinpa."

The experts encouraged the State of Mexico to implement all the recommendations of the IGIE.

“Prompt and diligent implementation of the recommendations will promote the proper investigation and punishment of those responsible, the clarification of the facts, as well as the search for the victims and redress for them,” the experts said.

The experts stressed that the recommendations of the IGIE are relevant not only in the case of the students, but also in relation to the great challenges facing the Mexican State with regards to enforced disappearances, torture and executions, as mentioned in their respective mission reports** following their recent visits to the country. They reiterated their offer of cooperation and technical assistance to the State of Mexico.

The UN experts also wished to convey a message of recognition, solidarity and support to the victims, their families and the students.

ENDS

* The Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment and the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions of the UN Human Rights Council.

** Check the country visit reports:

Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances:
http://hchr.org.mx/images/doc_pub/Informe_DesapForz_2aEd_web.pdf
More information: http://www.ohchr.org/sp/special-procedures/wg-disappearances

Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment, Juan E. Méndez:
http://hchr.org.mx/images/doc_pub/G1425291.pdf
More information: http://www.ohchr.org/sp/special-procedures/sr-torture

Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Christof Heyns:
http://hchr.org.mx/images/doc_pub/G1413997.pdf
More information: http://www.ohchr.org/sp/special-procedures/sr-executions