Mexico

Human Rights Defenders Demand that Mexico Contribute More to CIDH

08 of June 2016

Volunteers of Amnesty International during a demonstration demanding the OAS increase the budget they assigned to CIDH, outside the Foreign Relations Secretariat building, in Mexico City,photo: Reuters/Edgard Garrido

Mexico contributed $370,000 to the international body this year

MEXICO CITY — Various human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, staged a protest outside of the Foreign Relations Secretariat (SRE) Wednesday, to demand that the Mexican government contribute more to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights’ (CIDH) budget.

Volunteers of Amnesty International hold a sign that reads, "Save the IACHR" (Inter-American Human Rights Commission), during a demonstration demanding the Organisation of American States (OAS) increase the budget they assigned to IACHR, outside the Foreign Affairs building, in Mexico City, Mexico, June 8, 2016. Photo: Reuters/Edgard Garrido — Volunteers of Amnesty International hold a sign that reads “Save the CIDH” during a demonstration demanding the Organization of American States (OAS) increase the budget they assigned to CIDH, outside the Foreign Relations Secretariat, in Mexico City, Mexico, June 8, 2016. *Photo: Reuters/Edgard Garrido*

According to SRE Undersecretary for Human Rights Miguel Ruíz Cabañas, Mexico contributed $370,000 to the CIDH. Perseo Quiroz Rendón, director of the Mexican section of Amnesty International, thinks that Mexico should contribute more and has met with Ruíz Cabañas to express that opinion.

“From our perspective, which we communicated to the undersecretary, Mexico is underpaying,” said Quiroz Rendón. “Mexico is one of the principal users of the CIDH and I think that we should support the CIDH more.”

A volunteer of Amnesty International holds fake money during a demonstration demanding the Organisation of American States (OAS) increase the budget they assigned to IACHR, outside the Foreign Affairs building, in Mexico City, Mexico, June 8, 2016. photo: Reuters/Edgard Garrido — A volunteer of Amnesty International holds fake money during a demonstration demanding the Organization of American States (OAS) increase the budget they assigned to CIDH, outside the Foreign Relations Secretariat building, in Mexico City, Mexico, June 8, 2016. *Photo: Reuters/Edgard Garrido*

The protesters said that Mexico is experiencing a human right crisis.

“There is no justification for not financing the CIDH,” said Jimena Amnion, a human rights defender. “The CIDH has less money than all the other regional human rights protection systems. There’s no justification for its budget to be cut in Mexico.”

They added that the CIDH’s financial problems were due to the criticisms of governments that it has made, and that it will be compelled to fire 40 percent of its staff and suspend visits to countries.

THE NEWS

CIDH human rights IACHR Miguel Ruíz Cabañas SRE