PBI-Canada has been following with interest the Mexico-Canada Dialogue on Human Rights and Multilateral Issues that took place in Ottawa on May 20, 2026. We have highlighted the need to strengthen the Protection Mechanism for Human Rights Defenders and Journalists in Mexico, both in a preparatory call with Global Affairs Canada on March 27 and in a follow-up meeting with them held on June 15.
Both calls were organized by the Americas Police Group (APG).
In this follow-up meeting, we learned:
1-a topic of discussion at the Dialogue was freedom of expression and the protection of human rights defenders (about 30-40 minutes on the agenda)
2-the discussion acknowledged the growing threat to human rights defenders and journalists, including the context of disinformation
3-a “substantive discussion” on the Protection Mechanism took place during the Dialogue; this involved highlighting Canada’s “Voices at Risk” guidelines, and asking Mexican officials their understanding of how the Mechanism is working
4-the recommendations – developed by Espacio OSC and forwarded to Global Affairs Canada by PBI-Canada – to strengthen the Protection Mechanism had been shared with Mexican officials
5-the preferred method for Global Affairs Canada when it wants to financially support an issue of concern in Mexico is through a United Nations agency (e.g., $9.9 million in funding for United Nations-led projects to support migrant integration initiatives in Mexico and combat the illicit production and trafficking of fentanyl).
In this call, PBI-Canada noted that several reports on the situation in Mexico in 2025 had been released after the Dialogue that point to an ongoing and concerning situation: 43 human rights defenders killed (Front Line Defenders); 3 union activists killed, 1 disappeared (International Trade Union Confederation); 41 business-related attacks against defenders, with 30 of those attacks in the mining sector.
Global Affairs Canada noted that these reports are concerning, that they take them seriously, and that their role is to encourage Canadian companies follow the guidelines and standards for responsible business conduct. Their interest is for Canadian companies to be seen as good investors.
We will continue to follow the issue of the Protection Mechanism, the Canadian government’s elimination of the Canadian Office for Responsible Enterprise (CORE), and the process to update the “Voices at Risk” guidelines.
The next Mexico-Canada Dialogue on Human Rights and Multilateral Issues is scheduled to take place in Mexico City in 2027.
Additional reading
–PBI-Canada following the Mexico-Canada Dialogue on Human Rights and Multilateral Issues in Ottawa (May 20, 2026)
–PBI-Canada highlights the need to strengthen the Protection Mechanism in Mexico at APG-organized call with Global Affairs Canada (March 27, 2026)
–Mexican trade delegation to visit Canada on May 7-9; the call to strengthen the Protection Mechanism continues (March 13, 2026)
–PBI-Canada and PBI-Mexico meet with the Embassy of Canada in Mexico to highlight the need to strengthen the Protection Mechanism (February 27, 2026).
