In the run-up to the elections in Mexico on 2 June, the German Human Rights Coordination Mexico and Misereor are drawing attention to the increasing brutal violence in the country, particularly against human rights and environmental protection organisations and media representatives.
The election campaign was a missed opportunity for human rights in several respects: there were hardly any constructive proposals on how to intensify the search for the more than 100,000 disappeared or how to better protect human rights defenders. At the same time, in the months leading up to the election, there were repeated harsh rhetorical attacks by the government on human rights organisations - most recently on the internationally recognised human rights centres Fray Bartolomé de las Casas and Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez. Both had drawn attention to the serious situation of violence.
"During the election campaign, Mexico's government has resorted to punishing the bearers of bad news instead of recognising the seriousness of the situation and taking effective measures to protect the population and civil society. This is particularly evident in states such as Chiapas, where organised crime is terrorising and displacing the local population, while at the same time there is a large military presence. There is an urgent need for the Mexican government to prioritise the violent situation in large parts of the country, the search for the disappeared and the protection of human rights defenders and journalists," said Françoise Greve, coordinator of the German Human Rights Coordination Mexico.
There was also a wave of political violence during the election campaign: Since June 2023, the research project "Votar entre balas" ("Voting amidst bullets") has counted 35 murdered candidates and pre-election candidates (as of 19 May 2024). Violence and threats have led to numerous local politicians across the country withdrawing their candidacies.
Civil society is the backbone of democracy and must be protected
Mexico is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for human rights defenders, environmentalists and media professionals.According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Mexico, at least 103 human rights defenders, 41 journalists and seven media professionals were murdered for their work between 1 January 2019 and 28 February 2024. In this generally dangerous situation, rhetorical attacks during election campaigns put human rights defenders and journalists at additional risk.
"A vibrant civil society and a free press are the backbone of a democracy and must be particularly protected during election times," emphasises Benjamin Schwab, Mexico desk officer at Misereor. "In bilateral talks with the Mexican government, the German government should take a more decisive stance in favour of respect for human rights and a free press and against the massive militarisation of all areas of society. As Mexico's so-called global partner, Germany has a responsibility to advocate vehemently for democratic participation and the promotion of an active, pluralistic civil society," said Schwab.
The German Human Rights Coordination Mexico is a network of:
Latin America aid organisation Adveniat, Amnesty International Germany, Bread for the World, CAREA e.V., Initiative Mexico (INIMEX), México vía Berlin e.V., Mexico-Initiative Köln/Bonn, Misereor, Missionsprokur der deutschen Jesuiten, Franziskaner Helfen, Ökumenisches Büro für Frieden und Gerechtigkeit e.V., Pacta Servanda e.V., Partner Südmexikos e.V., pax christi Kom- mission Eine Welt, Promovio e.V., Welthaus Bielefeld, Zapapres e.V.
Further contact:
Nikolas Grimm
Press and Public Relations, German Human Rights Coordination Mexico
Tel: +49 (0)160 92832791/ presse@mexiko-koordination.de
