The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, concluded his official visit to Mexico with a clear diagnosis: forced disappearances, systemic impunity, violence against journalists and activists, and femicides continue to be the most serious challenges for the Mexican State.
Türk met with President Claudia Sheinbaum, Secretary of the Interior Rosa Icela Rodríguez, Attorney General Ernestina Godoy and members of the Judiciary. He recognized advances such as poverty reduction, gender parity in government and constitutional reform on indigenous peoples. But he emphasized that effective access to justice continues to be the central demand of the victims.
Crisis of disappearances and security
The official described the situation of missing persons as a “national tragedy” that erodes trust in institutions. Although he praised the General Law and the update of the Approved Search Protocol, he called for avoiding politicization of the problem and strengthening forensic identification and investigation capabilities.
Regarding security, he pointed out that organized crime and the flow of weapons violate the rights of millions. He recommended strengthening professional civilian police forces and expressed concern about the use of informal preventive detention.
Gender violence
Türk regretted that every day seven women lose their lives for reasons of gender, a phenomenon that, he said, affects social conscience. He trusted that the future General Law on Femicide will standardize protection protocols throughout the country.
The UN representative did not give dates for new visits, but made it clear that international monitoring will continue.
