UN rights chief worried about Mexico law enshrining armed forces in law enforcement

GENEVA, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- Proposed legislation in Mexico to enshrine the role of the armed forces in law enforcement is deeply worrying, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said on Tuesday.

He said he recognizes that Mexico faces a massive security challenge, given the violence and fear sown by powerful, organized crime groups in the country.

"But more than a decade after the armed forces were deployed in the so-called war on drugs, violence has not abated and many human rights violations and abuses, including extrajudicial killings, torture and enforced disappearances, continue to be committed by various State and non-State actors," said Zeid.

The Law on Internal Security was approved by the Chamber of Deputies on Nov. 30 and has now been referred for debate and adoption in the upper legislative chamber, the Senate.

Zeid recalled that, during his visit to Mexico in 2015, the authorities said the initial deployment of the armed forces had been inevitable given the weakness of the various police forces.

Authorities had assured him of their commitment to gradually replace the armed forces with a stronger, better prepared police force, both at federal and individual state level.

The current draft law does not refer in detail to the need to strengthen police institutions nor does it contain an exit strategy for gradually ending the use of the armed forces in law enforcement.

"Adopting a new legal framework to regulate the operations of the armed forces in internal security is not the answer," said Zeid.

"The current draft law risks weakening incentives for the civilian authorities to fully assume their law enforcement roles," the high commissioner said.

Zeid noted that in his recommendations to the Mexican Government following his visit, he had emphasized the need to promote a citizen's security approach.

This would be to ensure that public security policies are carried out in line with international human rights standards, and to investigate alleged violations and guarantee accountability for violations, he said. Enditem