Presidencia de la República

Los Pinos, November 27 2011
CGCS-196

The Mexican government categorically rejects the false accusations lodged by a group of persons at the International Criminal Court.

Mexico is facing an unprecedented escalation of violence by both common criminals and organized crime, whose actions significantly affect Mexican families.

In response to the demand for help by citizens suffering from violence in certain parts of the country and at the request of state authorities, the Mexican government ordered these authorities to be supported and organized crime to be combated in strict accordance with the law.

In undertaking these actions, federal forces have fulfilled their constitutional and legal duties, particularly in regard to complying with and enforcing the law, preserving the country’s domestic safety, contributing to the establishment of public security and supporting the Public Prosecutor’s Office in the investigation and persecution of crimes. The federal forces have been given strict orders to act with full respect for the law, individual guarantees and the human rights of all citizens.

In the cases where human rights have unfortunately been violated, the Mexican government has not only forcefully condemned these violations but also proceeded to take legal action against those responsible in the appropriate courts.

It should be noted, however, that given the scope of the problem caused by crime and the number of people who have been arrested for acting outside the law, these cases have been the exception rather than the rule. Federal agents have been instructed to deliver detainees to the appropriate authorities in the terms established in the Mexican Constitution. In the pursuance of their duties, the observance of the law has been the rule rather than the exception. In other words, these violations, which are obviously repudiated and punished by the Mexican state, are certainly not systematic, far less the result of institutional policy. The Judicial Branch is responsible for punishing these abuses and Federal Government has offered and will continue to offer all its support to enable judges to fulfill their duty.

It is absurd to attempt to equate the actions of a democratic government to preserve the law and defend families from criminals with crimes against humanity committed by authoritarian states in order to exterminate a population for ethnic, religious or political reasons. This is not the case of Mexico, which has a vibrant democracy, with balanced, independent branches of government, autonomous human rights institutions and a system of freedoms and guarantees and respect for human rights shared by very few developing countries.

The Federal Government strategy has three main components: 1) Pursuing and arresting criminals; 2) Rebuilding the institutions responsible for enforcing the law, through the purging and strengthening of the police force and public prosecutors’ offices, 3) restoring the social fabric through a solid prevention policy.

In particular, the recent Constitutional Reforms regarding Human Rights, Penal Law and Habeas Corpus have resulted in the largest expansion of freedoms and human rights guarantees in Mexico in decades and are proof of the Mexican government’s commitment to human rights.

These reforms also show that the government’s efforts are not restricted to combating crime, since it has also embarked on a sweeping legal and institutional reform to substantially improve the institutions responsible for security and law enforcement throughout the country. This reform will be implemented through new laws and the transformation of institutions such as the Federal Police Force and the Attorney General’s Office, as well as continuous pressure on the states to purge and strengthen their police and judicial forces and public prosecutors’ offices.

This federal administration has also implemented an active crime prevention policy through the most ambitious social policy recorded in Mexico. This policy has achieved universal health coverage, as well as the largest ever health and education infrastructure, through the construction of hospitals, clinics, universities and the largest number of free, public senior high schools in Mexican history.

The Federal Government’s preventive policy has been complemented by the establishment of New Life Centers for addiction prevention, the restoration of public areas and the implementation of the Safe School Program. In other words, the Federal Government is working to restore the social fabric and create the social conditions that will discourage young people from engaging in violence or succumbing to addictions.

The accusations against the Mexican government are groundless and unfounded, as noted by experts on the issue. In addition, they constitute slander and rash accusations that not only damage persons and institutions but also seriously affect Mexico’s good name. The Mexican government is therefore exploring every possible means of taking legal action against those who have made these accusations at national and international forums.