Amnesty International: Torture in Mexico Is Like a Virus of Epidemic Proportions Amnesty International
go to original November 26, 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 published by Amnesty International. (Amnesty International)

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

Beatings, fake asphyxiation and sexual abuse are routinely used by the security forces to punish detainees or extract confessions. According to a poll commissioned by Amnesty International, 64 per cent of Mexicans are scared they might suffer it if they are taken into custody.

A report published by the organization also revealed a 600 per cent rise in the number of cases reported to the National Human Rights Commission, between 2003 and 2013. And this institution only detects a small fraction of all possible torture cases in the country.

Torture is so pervasive that anyone can be a target. But being poor or living in a marginalized neighbourhood may put you at higher risk as police officers and prosecutors tend to assume that you have fewer resources to defend yourself.

“Mexico’s police and soldiers are so desperate to find anyone to blame for the crimes committed by unscrupulous gangs that they seem not to think twice before arresting someone and getting a confession at any cost. There seem to be no limits,” said Erika Guevara Rosas, Americas Director at Amnesty International.

Most of those responsible for inflicting or authorizing torture never face justice: only seven torturers have ever been convicted in federal courts.

But while thousands try to cope with the consequences of torture, the Mexican authorities are turning a blind eye to this epidemic.

Gravely flawed investigations by prosecutors and human rights commissions routinely under-report or dismiss well-founded claims. On paper, Mexico has adhered to the highest international standards in relation to forensic examination of alleged torture victims for over a decade. In reality, forensic examinations tend to be poor, late, re-traumatizing and biased against the victim,

Read the whole story 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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