INTERIOR-FOREIGN AFFAIRS Joint Press Release

Mexico has a legal and institutional framework that sets an international standard in human rights and was built with victims' participation: UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk paid an official visit to Mexico from April 19-22, at the invitation of the Mexican government, to hold a high-level dialogue with national authorities and other actors, including civil society, on the human rights situation in the country and internationally.

During his visit, the High Commissioner met with President Claudia Sheinbaum and with the heads of the Ministries of the Interior, Foreign Affairs, and Environment and Natural Resources, the National Institute of Indigenous Peoples, and the acting head of the Ministry of Women. He also met with the presidents of the Supreme Court, the Judicial Disciplinary Tribunal, the Judicial Administration Body, and the Electoral Tribunal of the Federal Judiciary, and held discussions with the political parties represented on the Political Coordination Committee of the Senate.

He also met with the Attorney General and took part in a special session of the National Criminal Prosecution System, which convenes the prosecution offices of all 32 states.

Central to his agenda were meetings with civil society organizations, missing persons search collectives, and public human rights bodies.

At the close of his visit, the High Commissioner said the visit had been highly productive and had given him a firsthand look at both the achievements and the challenges Mexico faces on human rights. He thanked the government for the invitation and for opening the doors of all its institutions to him.

The High Commissioner commended several good practices, including the constitutional reform establishing indigenous peoples as subjects of public law, the creation of LIBRE centers to advance women's rights at the local level, and public consultation on environmental rights issues.

He also recognized the country's progress on economic and social rights, noting: "I welcome the fact that Mexico has reduced poverty and expanded access to economic and social rights through social protection policies, increases in the minimum wage, and programs targeting vulnerable groups, as well as the creation of universal care for older adults. These advances reflect elements of a human rights economy that places people at the center of economic decisions."

The Mexican government reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the rights of migrants, a central pillar of its foreign policy. It asked the High Commissioner to support efforts in international forums to promote measures guaranteeing the human rights of all migrants, regardless of their immigration status.

The High Commissioner discussed the importance of ensuring effective and accessible access to justice, as well as redoubling national and international efforts to combat arms trafficking.

On the protection of human rights defenders and journalists, he noted, "The protection program for human rights defenders and journalists is an important model and a benchmark in the region, particularly for its governance structure, which actively incorporates civil society."

On disappearances, consistent with Mexico's openness and ongoing dialogue with human rights bodies, both sides agreed to deepen cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner in preventing and combatting this issue.

The Mexican government reiterated its recognition of the challenges this crime poses, reaffirmed its full commitment to confronting it, and expressed its readiness to continue strengthening international cooperation in this area. On this point, the High Commissioner said, "Mexico has a legal and institutional framework of great potential centered on the General Law on Enforced Disappearance of Persons and Disappearance Committed by Individuals, which sets an international standard and was developed with the participation of victims. The recent adoption of an updated national search protocol is an important step."

Mexico will continue to be, as the High Commissioner recognized, a regional and global actor in support of multilateralism and the international human rights system.

Through constructive exchanges such as those held during this visit, Mexico reaffirms its commitment to openness in international cooperation and to multilateral cooperation, both essential to guaranteeing human rights.