THE UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON EXTRAJUDICIAL, SUMMARY OR ARBITRARY EXECUTIONS IN MEXICO ON AN OFFICIAL VISIT

• The visit is part of Mexico’s policy of full cooperation and openness with the international human rights agencies.

• The rapporteur is in Mexico to learn about the progress made with the institutional, legislative and public policies on human rights.

At the invitation of the Mexican government, the UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, Christof Heyns, began an official visit today with a meeting in the Foreign Ministry, where the Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights, Ambassador Juan Manuel Gómez Robledo, reviewed the agenda for his visit from April 22 to May 2.

His visit is part of the Mexican government’s policy of full cooperation and openness with the international human rights agencies. This will be the first visit of this type for the current administration, which reiterates Mexico’s commitment as an actor with global responsibilities.

Special Rapporteur Heyns reviewed his program with various Mexican officials. He will have more than 25 meetings with over 100 federal and state officials, including the Secretary of the Navy and the Attorney General's Office, as well as senior officers of the Defense Ministry, the President of the Supreme Court and representatives from both houses of Congress.

He will also meet with high-level officials from the states of Chihuahua, Guerrero and Nuevo Leon and end with meetings with the National Human Rights Commission, state-level human rights agencies, civil society organizations and academics.

The Mexican government will give the Rapporteur a detailed explanation of its human rights policies and actions in accordance with its international commitments. It will also explain how it has strengthened its institutional and legal structures, as well as public policy.

Christof Heyns, a South African citizen, became the Special Rapporteur in August 2010. This will be his first official visit. The Rapporteur's mandate includes the examination of all acts and omissions of State representatives that constitute a violation of the general recognition of the right to life, liberty, integrity and security as embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.