The 40th Congress of FIDH :
Considering that, since 2006, in the context of the militarised public security strategy that launched a war against organised crime, Mexico has experienced a spiral of violence and serious human rights violations across much of its territory.
Alarmed that, according to official figures, in Mexico there are more than 40 thousand people missing, more than 2,000 clandestine graves have been found and around 26 thousand bodies and thousands of unidentified remains have been reported. However, the Mexican State itself has indicated that these figures are questionable due to the lack of reliable records.
In light of the fact that only 30 convictions have been registered for forced disappearance in the country, which demonstrates impunity in absolute terms and the inexcusable failure of the State to investigate these crimes with due diligence.
Recalling that the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the Committee against Enforced Disappearances (CED) and the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances have emphatically commented on the grave generalised situation of disappearance of persons in Mexico, both by state agents and organised crime.
Recognising that many groups of relatives of missing persons and civil society organisations at national level prompted the issuance of the General Law on Forced Disappearance of Persons, Disappearance Committed by Individuals and the National Missing Persons Search System, with the objective of generating the appropriate regulatory and institutional conditions for finding people and bringing truth, justice and reparation to victims.
Alarmed because, despite the tireless efforts of families, the disappearances and the daily discovery of unidentified bodies and remains in the country still continues.
Recalling that FIDH, CMDPDH with the support of other organisations - including IDHEAS - have submitted three communications to the International Criminal Court in order to initiate an investigation into the situation in Mexico, since there is a reasonable basis to consider that crimes against humanity have been committed in the country.
The 40th FIDH Congress:
1) Deplores the crisis of violence and disappearances in Mexico and expresses deep concern over the failed militarisation strategies in response to the security challenges, as well as the insufficient institutional efforts to locate persons, punish those responsible and reparations for victims.
2) Urges the Mexican State to ensure timely implementation of the General Law on Forced Disappearance of Persons, Disappearance Committed by Individuals and the National Missing Persons Search System, using all the necessary economic resources, and create an immediate search system, as well as an extraordinary mechanism for the forensic identification of persons, as the victims have requested.
3) Calls on the Mexican State to investigate potential crimes against humanity in accordance with international standards and with a view to punishing those responsible. Also supports the proposal of Mexican organisations regarding the installation of an international mechanism against impunity in Mexico.
4) Urges the Mexican State to collaborate with the International Criminal Court in all that is necessary for the investigation of crimes against humanity committed in the country.
5) Urges the Mexican State to fully comply with the measures issued by the CED in the context of urgent actions; also calls for acceptance of jurisdiction of the CED to receive communications in terms of articles 31 and 32 of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.