PBI-Mexico comments on the structural challenges of the Protection Mechanism following the release of Working Group report

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The full civil society statement on the Working Group report can be read here.

PBI-Mexico has posted:

Today the two-year report of the Working Group to strengthen the @Mecanismo_MX [Protection Mechanism for Human Rights Defenders and Journalists operated by the Ministry of the Interior] was delivered, promoted by @ONUDHmexico [Office in Mexico of the High Commissioner for Human Rights], with the participation of @SEGOB_mx [the Ministry of Interior], @SRE_mx [the Ministry of Foreign Affairs], @CNDH [National Human Rights Commission], @FGRMexico [Office of the Attorney General of the Republic], civil society and the @CMecanismo [the Advisory Council of the Protection Mechanism for Human Rights Defenders and Journalists in Mexico].

The report highlights 89 priority recommendations, with 41 important advances and 29 fulfilled. The highlights include an increase in the Mechanism’s staff, meetings between the Federation and state entities, the creation of “La Equipa” [The Team] for the gender perspective and training.

However, structural challenges are observed, such as the mainstreaming of the intersectional approach, the collective and community approach, the monitoring of measures, the strengthening of risk analysis, protection plans and the adoption of a preventive approach.

For the above, we call on the new federal administration to give continuity to the Working Group and deepen the dialogue with civil society to generate a national public policy that guarantees #DerechoADefender #DDHH [the rights of human rights defenders] and #LibertadDeExpresion [freedom of expression] in Mexico.

Media coverage can be read (in Spanish) at They see little improvement in the Protection Mechanism (El Economista), Civil organizations ask the Mexican government to consolidate the strengthening of the Protection Mechanism for Human Rights Defenders and Journalists (88.9 Noticias) and Progress of the Working Group for the Protection of Defenders and Journalists (Somoselmedio).

Continuing challenges (text from Somoselmedio)

The situation

Global Witness reports that 203 land and environmental defenders have been killed in Mexico between 2012 (the year the Mechanism was signed into law) and 2023, while Amnesty International and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) highlighted in March 2024 that eight journalists were killed while enrolled in Mexico’s Mechanism for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Journalists over the past seven years.

Previous PBI-Mexico commentary

PBI-Mexico has previously explained that a Protection Mechanism was created for journalists in Autumn 2010.

Later, the Law for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Journalists was signed into law in June 2012. That law obliges both federal and state authorities to protect the rights of journalists and human rights defenders.

In March 2020, PBI-Mexico commented “the Mechanism continues to demonstrate notable deficiencies and concerning failures.”

The year before that, PBI also highlighted: “The Mechanism can’t possibly address its shortcomings with its current budget and staffing levels. Providing additional funding would be the first step the Mexican government can take to ensure the Mechanism has the resources necessary to manage its rapidly growing caseload.”

For more, please see the report Turning the Tide on Impunity: Protection and Access to Justice for Journalists and Human Rights Defenders in Mexico.


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