In Oaxaca, defense lawyer Israel Ochoa helped with cases. We owe special thanks to the Reynosa, Tamaulipas-based Center for Border Studies and Promotion of Human Rights and the Tijuana, Baja California-based Binational Center for Human Rights. In addition, they aided tremendously in our field work, generously sharing their contacts, files, and expertise. From the inception of this project in 1996, Mexican human rights groups have given important feedback on the scope and goals of the report. Human Rights Watch gratefully recognizes the invaluable support of our Mexican colleagues. Their courage in the face of injustice animates this report. The author would particularly like to thank the many people, both victims and their family members, who shared their painful experiences during interviews. Miguel Sarre, for his valuable observations on chapter three. We are indebted to Víctor Brenes, Marisol López, Pilar Noriega, Digna Ochoa, and Salvador Tinajero, who kindly took the time to review the first three chapters of this report, and to Prof. Herman Schwartz for his helpful comments on a very early draft. Alejandro Garro and Paul Chevigny for providing valuable comments on this report. We are grateful to Human Rights Watch Americas division Advisory Board members Profs. Human Rights Watch General Counsel Wilder Tayler and Americas division Director José Miguel Vivanco also reviewed the text. Deputy Director for the Americas Anne Manuel, Program Director Cynthia Brown, and Associate Counsel Joanne Mariner edited the manuscript. Joel Solomon, research director for the Americas, researched and wrote this report, drawing on information gathered during fact-finding missions to Mexico City and the states of Baja California, Oaxaca, and Tamaulipas between September 1996 and June 1998. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Faced with this deeply troubling reality, the Mexican government has opted to treathuman rights as an issue to be managed politically, countered with facile statistics, or handledthrough insufficient reforms or initiatives. Through willful ignorance ofabuses or purposeful fabrication of evidence, prosecutors routinely prosecute victims usingevidence obtained through human rights violations, including torture and illegal detention, andjudges avail themselves of permissive law and legal precedent to condemn victims while ignoringabuses. ![]() Human rights violations also stem from the justice system's ineffective protection ofindividual guarantees and its lax approach to human rights abuses. The problem, however, runs far deeper than official toleration of abuses andimpunity. ![]() Inpart, this is because political leaders have been unwilling to ensure that existing humanrights-related laws are applied vigorously authorities are more likely to close ranks and deny thateven well-documented abuses ever took place than they are to insist that those responsible bebrought to justice. ![]() Indeed, reforms have taken place, butthey have failed to abate, much less resolve, these serious, seemingly intractable problems. Torture, "disappearances," and extrajudicial executions remain widespread in Mexico, despitenumerous legal and institutional reforms adduced by successive Mexican governments asevidence of their commitment to protecting human rights. Human Rights Watch, Systemic Injustice: Torture, "Disappearance," and Extrajudicial Execution in Mexico, 1 January 1999, available at:
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