Collateral Damage: Congress Withholds Funds for Mexico Tied to Human Rights Performance

Here is a statement calling upon the U.S. Congress to withhold Merida Initiatve funds from Mexico, based on its not meeting human rights conditions set forth in the legisilation. The groups issuing the statement includie Mexcian ones. The groups are Amnesty International USA, Human Rights Watch, Latin America Working Group Education Fund, Washington Office on Latin America, Comisión Mexicana de Defensa y Promoción de los Derechos Humanos, Fundar, Centro de Análisis e Investigación, The Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez Human Rights Center, Monitor Civil de la Policía en Guerrero and the Tlachinollan Human Right Center

Congress: Withhold Funds for Mexico Tied to Human Rights Performance: "Research conducted by our respective organizations, Mexico’s National Human Rights Commission, and even the State Department’s own reports, demonstrates conclusively that Mexico has failed to meet the four human rights requirements set out by law. As a result, Congress should not release these select Merida funds. Releasing these funds would send the message that the United States condones the grave human rights violations committed in Mexico, including torture, rape, killings, and enforced disappearances. 


We recognize that Mexico is facing a severe public security crisis, and that the United States can play a constructive role in strengthening Mexico's ability to confront organized crime in an effective manner. However, human rights violations committed by Mexican security forces are not only deplorable in their own right, but also significantly undermine the effectiveness of Mexico’s public security efforts. Sept. 14, 2010