25/2/15: Human Rights Parliamentary Roundtable on Mexico

Posted onAuthorHumanRightsAPPG

The All-Party Parliamentary Human Rights Group (PHRG), in conjunction with the Mexico APPG, organised this event, the latest in a series of roundtable discussions on the human rights situation in Mexico.

The PHRG would like to thank Jeremy Corbyn MP (“JC”) for chairing this event.

The participants included:

  • Stephanie Black, Human Rights Officer, Mexican Embassy. (“SB”)
  • Minister David Nájera, Deputy Head of Mission, Mexican Embassy (“DN”).
  • Kerry McCarthy MP.
  • Baroness Hooper.
  • Susi Bascon, Director, PBI UK. (“SBa”)
  • Kirsty Brimelow QC, Chair, Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales (“KB”).
  • Elizabeth Mistry, Freelance Journalist (“EM”).
  • Elizabeth Green, Head of Amercias, FCO.
  • Tom Davies, Stop Torture Campaign Manager, Amnesty International (“TD”).
  • Nicole Piché, Coordinator and Legal Advisor, All-Party Parliamentary Human Rights Group (“NP”);

Key points raised during the meeting:

  • Human rights problems at the local level can be difficult for the Federal Government to address, so there must be positive change at the local level in the longer term. (DN)
  • Human rights defenders remain extremely vulnerable and more should be done to address their unwarranted criminalisation by authorities. (SBa)
  • Torture remains a serious problem in Mexico, as indicated by the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture in his latest report. An Argentinian investigation into the case of the missing students case found inconsistencies in the official Mexican investigation. (TD)
  • Impunity exists at all levels in Mexico and there remains a lack of willingness to acknowledge this. This problem requires structural reform and greater political will. (NP)
  • Mexico is open to dialogue on human rights, and is concerned about the issues raised. The 10 point reform plan has been sent to Congress to debate and will hopefully be passed before the end of April. (SB)
  • The current “dual year of the UK in Mexico and Mexico in the UK” includes opportunities to discuss human rights issues. (SB)
  • The possibility for a Parliamentary delegation to Mexico in the autumn will be explored. (JC)

The PHRG is continuing to monitor the human right situation in Mexico. Another roundtable meeting is planned for after the UK elections.