Lost in Transition
Bold Ambitions, Limited Results for Human Rights Under Fox

I. Summary and Recommendations

Openness and Transparency

A New Foreign Policy
The Transparency Law
Ongoing Threats to Openness and Transparency

Accountability and Law Enforcement

The Special Prosecutor’s Office
Justice Reform
Reconciling Rights and Security

The Lessons of Ciudad Juárez
Recommendations

II. Openness: A New Approach to Foreign Policy

The Old Closed-Door Policy
A New Approach to Foreign Policy

Promoting Human Rights Abroad
Openness to International Scrutiny

Harmonization Efforts

Ratification of International Human Rights Treaties
Reforming Domestic Law
Embedding International Norms in the Constitution
The National Human Rights Program
Mechanisms to Ensure Continuity

Recommendations

III. Transparency: Ending the Culture of Official Secrecy

Background

International Norms

The Transparency Law

Bringing about Reform
The New Law
Results: Progress and Obstacles

The Opening of Secret Government Archives

The Release of Documents
Limits on Accessibility
Applying the Transparency Law to the Archives

Transparency and Human Rights
Recommendations

IV. Accountability: Ongoing Impunity for Past Atrocities

Background

History of Abuses
Mexico’s Obligations under International Law

The Special Prosecutor’s Office

Creation and Mandate
Results after Four Years
What Remains to Be Done

Obstacles to Accountability

Obstacles to Truth
Obstacles to Justice

Shortcomings of the Special Prosecutor’s Office
Recommendations

V. Law Enforcement: Ongoing Abuses that Undermine Public Security

Torture

Mexico’s Open Secret
The Incentive to Torture
Mexico’s Obligations Under International Law
Why Past Efforts to Curb Torture Have Failed
Fox’s Reform Package
Misguided Opposition to an Urgent Reform

Excessive Use of Preventive Detention

How the Legal System Limits Judges’ Discretion
Impact on Prison Conditions
Mexico’s Obligations Under International Law
Fox’s Reform Package
Misguided Opposition to an Urgent Reform

Recommendations

VI. A Paradigmatic Case: Ciudad Juárez

Scapegoats:  How Abuses Undermine Public Security
Using Foreign Policy to Promote Local Change
The Lessons of Ciudad Juárez

   Acknowledgements

May 2006   ISBN 1-56432-337-4

Home | About Us | News Releases | Publications | Info by Country | Global Issues | Campaigns | Community | Bookstore | Film Festival | Search | Site Map | Contact Us | Press Contacts | Privacy Policy