Mexico Reiterates Unwavering Commitment to the Right of Political Asylum at OAS

• Mexico states that defending human dignity is a shared responsibility of the entire international community
• The majority of OAS Member States participating in the session reaffirmed Mexico's position, recognizing asylum as a humanitarian and peaceful institution and the duty to fully respect the provisions of the Caracas Convention.

This morning, in a special session of the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS), convened at Peru's request to address the issue of "diplomatic asylum," Mexico reiterated its unwavering commitment to the right of asylum under international law.

In its remarks, Mexico emphasized that diplomatic asylum is one of the most important pillars for protecting human dignity in the inter-American system, and recalled how, throughout history, our region in general, and Mexico in particular, have been at the forefront in exercising this right, based on a deep humanistic calling.

Mexico also presented compelling arguments about why the OAS or any of its organs should not conduct a process to review, reinterpret, or modify the 1954 Convention on Diplomatic Asylum (Caracas Convention), since this falls exclusively to the States that have ratified the instrument, in accordance with the rules set forth by international treaty law. Mexico further noted that such a process would weaken the institution of asylum by opening the door to political considerations that would undermine the humanitarian nature of the institution and contravene its objective of immediate protection.

Mexico also pointed out that attempts to reinterpret or modify the political asylum framework actually confirm its continued validity and demonstrate that Mexico has acted in full accordance with these international norms, highlighting the principle of non-retroactivity of law. Mexico stressed that the obligation to grant safe passage for any person granted asylum, as the Caracas Convention requires, has yet to be fulfilled.

Mexico urged full compliance with existing international law, and called on the OAS members to reaffirm their commitment to protecting human rights, guaranteeing the inviolability of diplomatic missions, and fully respecting the right to diplomatic asylum with the international protection it confers on persons persecuted for crimes that are not common crimes.

Fifteen of the 33 OAS Member States participated in the special session. The vast majority of delegations, including States that are not party to the Caracas Convention, agreed with Mexico's position. Several countries emphasized that this forum is not appropriate for resolving bilateral disputes. They noted that there are no additional requirements for granting asylum beyond those established in the Caracas Convention. They pointed out that the Convention itself does not provide for an amendment mechanism. They stressed that asylum should not become a source of political confrontation. They agreed that any review or reinterpretation process must be based on consensus among the parties and not on circumstantial situations.

Mexico underscores that defending human dignity is a shared responsibility of the entire international community, as is observing States' ethical, political, and legal commitments while safeguarding people's well-being. As part of its foreign policy, Mexico will continue defending those rights it has considered and continues to consider inalienable because they are just and enshrined in national and international legal frameworks, such as the right to asylum.