Mexico: UN torture prevention experts recognise progress, but urge strengthening of torture prevention measures

GENEVA – Mexico has demonstrated political commitment to combat and prevent torture and important progress has been made, however, there are concerns over gaps that exist between legal frameworks and policies and their implementation in practice, experts from the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) said concluding their third visit to the country.

Between the visits, the experts acknowledged progress made by Mexico, which adopted key legislative measures, including the General Law on the Prevention of Torture in 2017 and the General Law on Health in 2023. The Government also established specialised prosecutors’ offices to investigate acts of torture and strengthened its National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) with a solid legal framework and adequate resources.

“However, much work remains with regard to the implementation of torture prevention measures,” said Carmen Comas-Mata, head of the SPT delegation. “We are particularly concerned by the situation observed in drug rehabilitation centers, especially those that operate privately and outside any adequate regulatory framework.”

The Subcommittee noted worrying conditions and coercive practices in such centres, which operate without sufficient regulation and pose serious risks of ill-treatment.

“We are also concerned about the persistent problems in prompt and effective investigations of acts of torture and the fight against impunity despite the solid existing legal and institutional framework,” said Comas-Mata.