THE THIRD MEETING OF THE MEXICO-EUROPEAN UNION DIALOGUE ON HUMAN RIGHTS CONCLUDES

• The meeting was held to discuss various human rights issues in both regions.

• The delegations were of a very high level.

• The parties agreed to continue their bilateral cooperation in human rights.

The third meeting for a Mexico-European Union discussion on human rights was held in the Foreign Ministry on October 19th. This dialogue was established in 2010 as part of the Strategic Partnership.

The main purpose of the meeting was to discuss various human rights issues in both regions and to strengthen bilateral cooperation in this area.

Both delegations were of a very high level. The Mexican delegation was headed by the Foreign Ministry’s Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights, Ambassador Juan Manuel Gómez Robledo, and included three additional undersecretaries:  the Undersecretary for Legal Affairs and Human Rights, Max Diener; the Undersecretary for Population, Migration and Religious Affairs of the Interior Ministry, Gustavo Mohar; and the Undersecretary of Prevention and Citizen Participation, Facundo Rosas Rosas; two assistant attorney-generals, the Assistant Attorney-General for Human Rights, Victims and Community Services, Dr. Ruth Villanueva; and the Assistant Attorney-General for Legal and International Affairs, Alejandro Ramos, from the Attorney General's Office, as well as other senior officials of the Ministries of Interior, Foreign Affairs, Public Security, National Defense, the Attorney General's Office and the Supreme Court.

The European Union delegation was headed by the Special Representative of the European Union for Human Rights, Stavros Lambrinidis, and included the European Union’s Ambassador in Mexico, Marie-Anne Coninsx, and officials from the European Agency for the Management of Operation Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union (Frontex) of the European Union Delegation in Mexico.

During the discussion, both sides stressed the significant degree to which they agree on initiatives in multilateral human rights forums such as children's rights, abolition of the death penalty, gender equality, the rights of indigenous peoples, the rights of persons with disabilities and the need for the UN Human Rights Council to be able to respond to critical situations around the world. Both sides discussed fulfilling their international obligations with regard to human rights.

The Mexican side explained its progress on human rights with particular emphasis on legislative harmonization and constitutional reforms to human rights, the writ of amparo and criminal justice.

The EU discussed its progress in the legislative, political and judicial fields in policies against discrimination, racism and xenophobia, and gender equity, and the accession of the EU to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

The Mexican side presented a comprehensive overview of migration in Mexico and its most important patterns, and highlighted the importance of the new Immigration Act and its regulations for protecting migrants’ human rights.

The EU also discussed its policies regarding migrants’ human rights and the human rights practices involved in managing its borders, and offered technical assistance on migration as part of the “Migration EU Expertise” (MIEUX) initiative.

The Mexican delegation emphasized its efforts at creating better security frameworks for human rights defenders and journalists. It announced the establishment of the Protection Advisory Council for these groups.

Regarding bilateral cooperation, the Mexico-EU Human Rights Program 2009-2011 was assessed very favorably and it was agreed to renew and expand the justice and human rights component of the Laboratory on Social Cohesion II. Both parties said that they would sign in the near future an agreement to finance this project whose human rights program will include strengthening the justice system and support for state human rights programs.

Also discussed during the bilateral dialogue were the findings reached by Mexican and European civil society organizations at a seminar on human rights held the previous day. Their proposals for public policies on human rights and on strengthening the dialogue of civil society with the authorities of both Mexico and the EU were analyzed.

The Mexican delegation commended the EU for having received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2012. The dialogue reaffirmed the importance of human rights in the democratic life of both Mexico and the European Union.