2012

33 Members of Congress Send Letter on Human Rights Abuses in Mexico

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by Ruth Robles on July 06, 2012


Earlier this week, thirty-three members of Congress sent a “dear colleague” letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressing concerns regarding human rights and the rule of law in Mexico. In the letter, members of Congress call on Secretary Clinton to make detailed inquiries into human rights abuses committed by security forces during the Calderon administration as the State Department prepares its next report for Congress on the human rights requirements included in the Merida Initiative.  

Since President Felipe Calderón took office in December 2006, he has  responded to organized crime related violence with the deployment of thousands of Mexican military and federal police throughout the country.  During this same period, complaints of serious human rights violations by Mexican security forces have increased five-fold—including torture, rape, murder and forced disappearances. The letter reiterates Congress’ recognition of the need for abuses committed by soldiers against civilians to be investigated in civilian jurisdiction. However, impunity for such abuses remains the norm despite the Mexican Supreme Court’s July 2011 ruling that military jurisdiction should not be applied in cases of alleged human rights abuses against civilians.

Members of Congress also express concern regarding the use of torture, still a widespread practice despite reforms to the Mexican Constitution to prohibit the use of confessions obtained through torture and other forms of ill treatment, such as in the case of  Israel Arzate Meléndez, a man who was beaten, given electric shocks, and suffocated into giving a false confession.

Members of Congress conclude by asking, “If, upon obtaining this information, the Department of State determines that the human rights requirements are not being met, we believe your report should reflect this conclusion and the 15 percent of select funds should be withheld.”

We applaud members of Congress who have taken a stand in support for human rights and the rule of law, and join them in urging Secretary Clinton to provide a full, accurate and thorough assessment of the Mexican government’s efforts to fulfill the human rights requirements in the Merida Initiative.

The letter was coordinated by Congressman James P. McGovern (MA), who was joined by Reps. Nita Lowey (NY), Jan Schakowsky (IL), John Lewis (GA), James Moran (VA), Raul Grijalva (AZ), Rosa DeLauro (CT), Sam Farr (CA) and John Conyers (MI), among others.

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:2012, Congressional Letters, Statements, and Resolutions, Promote Justice for Mexico and the Borderlands
 

The U.S. Peace Caravan Route Schedule

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by Ruth Isabel Robles on July 03, 2012

 

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U.S. Peace Caravan Route-- San Diego to Washington, D.C.: August 12 - September 12

San Diego, CA – Sunday, Aug 12

Los Angeles, CA - Monday – Tuesday, Aug 13 - Aug 14

Phoenix, AZ – Wednesday, Aug 15

Tucson, AZ – Thursday, Aug 16

Las Cruces, NM – Friday, Aug 17

Albuquerque/Santa Fe, NM – Saturday, Aug 18

Santa Fe, NM – Sunday, Aug 19

Rest Day, Santa Fe, NM – Monday, Aug 20

El Paso, TX – Tuesday, Aug 21

Laredo, TX – Wednesday, Aug 22

Harlingen/Brownsville, TX – Thursday, Aug 23

McAllen/San Antonio, TX – Friday, Aug 24

Austin, TX – Saturday, Aug 25

Houston, TX – Sunday, Aug 26

New Orleans, LA – Monday, Aug 27

Jackson, MS Rest Day – Tuesday, Aug 28

Montgomery, AL – Wednesday,Aug 29

Atlanta/Ft Benning, GA – Thursday - Friday, Aug 30 - 31

Louisville, KY– Saturday, Sept 1

Travel Night to Chicago, IL & Rest Day – Sunday, Sept 2

Chicago, IL – Monday - Tuesday, Sep 3-4

Cleveland, OH – Wednesday, Sept 5

New York, NY – Thursday - Friday, Sept 6-7

Baltimore, MD – Saturday - Sunday, Sept 8-9

Washington, D.C. – Monday - Wednesday, Sept 10-12

Feel like getting involved? Fill out this volunteer form or send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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:2012, Mexico, Promote Justice for Mexico and the Borderlands, U.S.-Mexico Border
 

Florida Lawmakers overstep Obama on Cuba policy: Where’s SCOTUS?

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by Alivia Tison, LAWG Intern on June 28, 2012


These days, current United States policy towards Cuba seems to be maneuvered by a strong backbone called Florida, who appears to be standing a little taller. With recent news of stiffer laws that Florida state legislators have backed to their 90.5-mile away neighbor, could the state of Florida be overstretching its rights and treading upon the federal government by creating its own foreign policy?

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:2012, Blog Posts, Cuba, End the Travel Ban on Cuba
 

LAWG and Partners Tell Secretary Clinton: Mexico Has Failed to Advance Human Rights

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by Ben Leiter on June 26, 2012


On June 25, 2012, the Latin America Working Group and partner U.S. and Mexican organizations issued a memo to the State Department and congressional leaders stating that Mexico has failed to make meaningful progress in key human rights areas identified by the U.S. Congress, including an end to impunity for human rights abuses committed by soldiers and police and the prohibition of the use of testimony gained through torture. 

To read the full memo, click here.

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:2012, LAWG & Nongovernmental Letters, Memos, and Statements, Promote Justice for Mexico and the Borderlands
 

Granito: How to Nail a Dictator Airing on PBS

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by Omar Martinez on June 25, 2012

Granito: How to Nail a Dictator will be nationally broadcasted on June 28, 2012 by PBS as part of the Documentaries with a Point of View (POV) program.

In a stunning milestone for justice in Central America, a Guatemalan court recently charged former dictator Efrain Rios Montt with genocide for his brutal war against the country's Mayan people in the 1980s -- and Pamela Yates' 1983 documentary, When the Mountains Tremble, provided key evidence for bringing the indictment. Granito: How to Nail a Dictator tells the extraordinary story of how a film, aiding a new generation of human rights activists, became a granito -- a tiny grain of sand -- that helped tip the scales of justice.

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:2012, Being Better Neighbors towards Latin America, Blog Posts, Guatemala, Omar Martinez
 
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