Human Rights: Historic human rights reforms passed in the Mexican Senate; now state congresses should follow suit « Mexico Institute

AL DÍA: Historic human rights reforms passed in the Mexican Senate; now state congresses should follow suit « Mexico Institute: "On March 8, 2011, the Mexican Senate approved a series of constitutional reforms on human rights that represent the most significant legal change to protect, promote and respect human rights in the country in decades.

The reforms of 11 articles of the Mexican Constitution include elevating the human rights provisions in international treaties approved by Mexico to the same level as the Constitution; incorporating respect for human rights into Mexico’s education and penitentiary systems as well as in foreign policy and establishing the right to a judicial hearing for any foreigner threatened with deportation.

Another important reform expands the powers of the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) and the state-level human rights commissions. If finalized, the new provisions would require any public official who has not fully complied with a recommendation issued by one of these human rights bodies is required to provide an explanation for their inaction and the Senate and the state legislatures can call on the authorities to explain himself/herself before the legislature." by Maureen Meyers, Washington Office on Latin America