After the mission, the EP Human Rights subcommittee issued a press release giving feedback of the visit. You can find it in the attached documents.
Regarding México, violence against women and girls was seen as a matter of particular concern, as well as the issue of enforced disappearances. The members of the DROI mission expressed strong support to the work carried out by GIEI and expressed hope that their investigation would bring clarity about the disappearances and about due judicial proceedings. DROI members also met with two fathers of the 43 disappeared students and acknowledged the need for further independent investigation, including after de delivery of GIEI’s second report which is foreseen in April.
In Guatemala the members of the mission expressed that dealing with impunity and reforming in depth the justice system is crucial for the country to continue making use of the momentum and drive change. Members furthermore highlighted and expressed support for the important work of the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG).
The delegation also visited the prison “Centro Preventivo Zona 18”, where they met with five imprisoned community leaders from Santa Cruz Barillas and Santa Eulalia. They are in preventive detention exceeding the legal maximum period, in relation to protests against activities of transnational corporations carrying out hydroelectric and mining projects. According to the DROI delegation press release, the members of the mission raised this case with several interlocutors, including the President.
Before the mission
On January 26 civil society organisations Act Alliance EU, Amnesty International, CIFCA, Deutsche Menschenrechtskoordination Mexiko, FIDH, OMCT, PBI Guatemala y PBI México, met the MEPs Cristian Preda (PPE), Beatriz Becerra (ALDE) and Hans-Olaf Henkel (ECR) to brief them about the Human Rights situation in Mexico and Guatemala and to advise them ahead of their visit to both countries from February 8 to 12.
Civil society organizations highlighted some or their concerns such as impunity, the right to food, torture, forced disappearances, situation of human right defenders and violence against women. MEPs confirmed several meetings with civil society organisations in both countries and the visit of a prison in Guatemala.
Related Documents:
Briefing on situation of HR in Guatemala: Briefing CIFCA situation of HR in Guatemala – final
Briefing on situation of HR in Mexico: 2016.01.26 Briefing Mexico
Press statement DROI mission: Press statement Mexico Guatemala
