THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZES MARÍA NICOLASA GARCIA REYNOSO FOR HER DEFENSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS

The Interior Ministry’s Undersecretary for Legal Affairs and Human Rights, Max Alberto Diener Sala; the Assistant Attorney General for Human Rights, Crime Prevention and Community Services of the Attorney General's Office, Ruth Villanueva Castilleja; and the Foreign Ministry’s Director General of Human Rights and Democracy, Ambassador Alejandro Negrin Munoz, led the ceremony to publicly acknowledge Ms. Maria Nicolasa Garcia Reynoso for her work as a human rights defender. The event was held in the Foreign Ministry.

During the event, an agreement for a friendly settlement of the Maria Nicolasa Garcia Reynoso case, pending before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, was signed. According to the commission’s report, Mrs. Garcia Reynoso and her family were the victims of threats, intimidation and attacks as a result of her work as a human rights defender.

Ambassasdor Negrin Muñoz stressed the importance of the friendly settlement agreements in the inter-American human rights system in that, with the agreements, the States are responsible for recognizing mistakes and offering a solution for them. The Ambassador also discussed the remarkable work done by human rights defenders like María Nicolasa and the State's duty to ensure a safe environment for them to pursue their activities, thus contributing in its turn to promoting and protecting human rights.

Assistant Attorney General Ruth Villanueva said that the event confirms that the international human rights instruments protecting human rights have gradually taken on a key role. Unlike in the past, States are not making elaborate speeches denying violations of their citizens’ rights, nor are they invoking national sovereignty to disregard the treaties to which they are legally bound. Instead, they submit to international scrutiny and recognize the need for international organizations to monitor compliance.

He also said that the signing of the agreement is important because the Mexican State is voluntarily and in good faith accepting its international obligations to respect and ensure the human rights of the people within its jurisdiction.

Undersecretary Max Alberto Diener Sala acknowledged Ms. Reynoso’s work, saying that she has fought tirelessly to ensure respect for human rights. He said that her work has helped dismantle criminal networks, protect children and women and prosecute high-profile criminals.

The Undersecretary thanked her for her daily commitment and work and he said that thanks to her and to all human rights defenders, Mexico is making progress with its efforts to be a more just and democratic nation.