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News > Latin America

Mexico Blocks UN Enforced Disappearance Committee Visit

  • A march of relatives of people disappeared in Mexico demanding justice.

    A march of relatives of people disappeared in Mexico demanding justice. | Photo: EFE

Published 21 October 2017
Opinion

The government of President Enrique Peña Nieto has denied the committee entry since 2013.

The Mexican government didn't allow the United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances to enter the country on Friday, a move heavily criticized by human rights organizations seeking justice.

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The organization, which claimed their visits have been denied since 2013, said they regret the fact that victims won't be allowed to have higher protections and won't receive help to resolve related crimes. 

Committee Chairman Suela Janina said the group has tried to visit Mexico for the past four years without any success, even after contact was made between the two parties to reach a possible agreement.

"We believe that the visit is a good instrument to help the member state overcome this problem," Janina told EFE.

Jan Jarab, a representative of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights in Mexico, said the country should join those states already benefiting from the help of the committee.

"It is imperative that Mexico opens a new path of justice for the victims of disappearance and reinforces the regime of international protection against this crime," Jarab said in a statement

Jarab also reminded the government that it's been eight years since Mexico ratified the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

"Recognition of the competence of the Committee would provide victims with a higher standard of protection and would allow them access to an international body specializing in the legitimate claim of their rights."

Meanwhile, after three years of debate, Mexico's Lower House of Congress approved the Forced Disappearance Law, which still needs about US$22 million to be approved in the 2018 budget in order for its implementation.

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