Shocking Rise in Reports of Torture and Ill-Treatment as Mexico Authorities Turn a Blind Eye Amnesty International
go to original September 4, 2014

Torture and ill-treatment in Mexico is out of control with a 600 per cent rise in the number of reported cases in the past decade, according to a new report. (Amnesty International)

See full report: Out of control: Torture and other ill-treatment in Mexico (PDF)

Torture and ill-treatment in Mexico is out of control with a 600 per cent rise in the number of reported cases in the past decade, according to a new report published by Amnesty International.

The organization is calling on the Mexican government to act now to stop the wide-spread and persistent use of torture by members of the police and armed forces.

The report, Out of control: Torture and other ill-treatment in Mexico charts a serious rise of torture and other ill-treatment and a prevailing culture of tolerance and impunity. Only seven torturers have ever been convicted in federal courts and even fewer have been prosecuted at state level.

“The authorities cannot continue to turn a blind eye to torture. Routine failure to enforce safeguards to prevent torture and other ill-treatment coupled with investigations into complaints that are often biased and downplay the severity of the abuse, are indicative of a government that is failing to protect human rights,” said Erika Guevara Rosas, Americas Director Amnesty International.

“The shocking rise in the use of torture in Mexico means the threat of ill-treatment hangs heavy over the heads of every person in the country. Amnesty International’s own survey found 64 per cent of Mexican citizens are afraid that they would be tortured if detained by the authorities.”

The report is the first in a series of five different country reports to be released as part of Amnesty International’s global STOP TORTURE campaign.

This report details how, between 2010 and the end of 2013 the National Human Rights Commission received more than 7,000 complaints for torture and other ill-treatment. There has been a recent reported drop in 2014, but rates are still far higher than a decade ago.

Read the rest at Amnesty International



Call on the Mexican president, Enrique Peña Nieto, to uphold all anti-torture safeguards, including proper medical examinations, and investigate all allegations of torture in his country at Amnesty International.

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