MEXICO AT THE HIGH-LEVEL MEETING OF THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON THE GLOBAL PLAN OF ACTION TO COMBAT TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS

The Mexican delegation, headed by the Interior Ministry’s Undersecretary for Legal Affairs and Human Rights, Lia Limón García, spoke at the High-level Meeting of the UN General Assembly on the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons.

In her remarks to the General Assembly, Undersecretary Limón reiterated Mexico's strong commitment to the Global Plan of Action. She stressed how important it is to continue working on prevention, protection and assistance for the victims, prosecution of the crime and stronger partnerships.

She mentioned the enactment in 2012 of the Law on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of the Crime of Trafficking in Persons, which aims to standardize punishment and the type of crime at the national level. It takes the burden of proof off the victim and establishes the obligation to assist and provide protection to the victim, their families and the witnesses.

She said the new law creates ways for the government to provide prevention, protection, medical and psychological assistance to the victims of these crimes and their families, in addition to access to justice and compensation, regardless of the nationality, origin or social status of the victim.

The Mexican delegation emphasized that the trafficking of persons finds fertile ground in scenarios of marginalization, inequality, legal loopholes and cultural conditions that favor it or make it invisible, which is why the Mexican government currently has social development policies to eradicate extreme poverty, social exclusion, discrimination and the lack of opportunity.

President Peña Nieto’s administration has focused on preventing violence as one of the priorities of the public agenda, whose goal is to ensure the full exercise of rights, restore social peace and strengthen the fight against the crime of human trafficking. An example of this commitment is the enactment and amendment of the General Victims Law which seeks reparation for the victims of these crimes or of human rights violations while it includes the concept of restorative justice in Mexican law.

Human trafficking is considered modern-day slavery and the most lucrative criminal activity in the world after the illicit sale of arms and drugs. More than 20 million people, mostly women and children, are victims of this crime.