Mexico rejects unilateral judgment from the U.S. on human rights

The Mexican government rejected the "unilateral" judgment from the United States in regard to human rights after Washington retained part of the funds provided each year to Mexico under the Merida Initiative due to concerns in that area.

According to the initiative, 15% of the funding renewed every year by the U.S. Congress are dependent on the progress in the human rights situation in Mexico. An annual report from the Department of State presents the state of affairs in Mexico to U.S. lawmakers before they make their decision.

"The way on which the Department of State conducts its relations with the Congress is based on internal procedures of the United States which Mexico respects," expressed the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) in a press release.

"However, (Mexico) rejects any unilateral practices in judging the situation of human rights in a given country and on the contrary, reiterates its commitment to continue participating in multilateral mechanisms and universal reviews, such as the ones established by the UN Human Rights Council," expressed the SRE.

The Foreign Ministry also explained that both nations keep a "mature and deep bilateral relationship," as well as a "solid dialog" regarding the combat against organized crime, such as it is expressed in co-operation initiatives like the Merida Initiative.

Also, the release pointed out that "Mexico reiterates its opening up to the scrutiny and the international cooperation in favor of strengthening the human rights regime."