Thread: Amnesty Intl - Widespread abuse of migrants in Mexico is 'hu

From Amnesty International:
28 April 2010


Widespread abuse of migrants in Mexico is 'human rights crisis'

Video at site.
Migrants on the move in Mexico





In January, police stopped a freight train carrying over 100 migrants in Chiapas State
© Amnesty International (Photo: Ricardo RamÃ*rez Arriola)


Most migrants travelling through Mexico are Central Americans headed for the US border for work
© Amnesty International (Photo: Ricardo RamÃ*rez Arriola)


Main routes taken by Central American migrants travelling through Mexico 2001-2005
© Amnesty International


The Mexican authorities must act to halt the continuing abuse of migrants who are preyed on by criminal gangs while public officials turn a blind eye or even play an active part in kidnappings, rapes and murders, Amnesty International said in a new report released on Tuesday.

Invisible Victims: Migrants on the Move in Mexico, documents the alarming levels of abuse faced by the tens of thousands of Central American irregular migrants that every year attempt to reach the US by crossing Mexico.

"Migrants in Mexico are facing a major human rights crisis leaving them with virtually no access to justice, fearing reprisals and deportation if they complain of abuses," said Rupert Knox, Mexico Researcher at Amnesty International.

"Persistent failure by the authorities to tackle abuses carried out against irregular migrants has made their journey through Mexico one of the most dangerous in the world."

Kidnappings of migrants, mainly for ransom, reached new heights in 2009, with the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) reporting that nearly 10,000 were abducted over six months and almost half of interviewed victims saying that public officials were involved in their kidnapping.

An estimated six out of 10 migrant women and girls experience sexual violence, allegedly prompting some people smugglers to demand that women receive contraceptive injections ahead of the journey, to avoid them falling pregnant as a result of rape.

On 23 January 2010, armed police stopped a freight train carrying over 100 migrants in Chiapas State, southern Mexico.

Veronica (not her real name) said that Federal Police forced her and the other migrants to leave the train and lie face down on the ground, before stealing their belongings and threatening to kill them unless they continued their journey by foot along the railway.

After walking for hours, the group was assaulted by armed men who raped Veronica and killed at least one other migrant.

Two suspects were later detained after a local activist helped the migrants file a complaint but no action was taken against the Federal Police, despite migrants identifying two officers allegedly involved.

"Mexico has a responsibility to prevent, punish and remedy abuses whether these are committed by criminal gangs or public officials," said Rupert Knox.

The report calls for immediate action to ensure migrants' access to complaint mechanisms regardless of their status and ensure effective investigations.

The vast majority of migrants travelling through Mexico are Central Americans headed for the US border in search of work.

Ruben Figueroa, a Mexican human rights defender who provides shelter and food for migrants, told Amnesty International: "They leave their homes because of the extreme poverty where they come from, the journey north is a nightmare for them but they do it for the families they have left behind."

The Mexican government has often stated its commitment to protect the rights of migrants, whatever their legal status and is a leading promoter of migrants' rights on the international stage.

Despite some welcome measures in recent years, for example better protection of the rights of unaccompanied children and criminalization of people trafficking, this has often in reality failed to prevent and punish abuses against migrants.

Amnesty International's recommendations to address the human rights crisis include:

Legislative reforms to ensure access to justice
Establish a federal task force to coordinate and implement measures
Compile and publish data on abuses against migrants and the steps taken to bring those responsible to account, including public officials.
Protect Migrants in Mexico


Mexico: Invisible victims. Migrants on the move in Mexico

Date Published: 28 April 2010
Categories: Mexico


http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-upda ... 2010-04-27

This is a letter I found which is a Mexican living in Texas complaining about being shaken down for money by the Mexican authorities when visiting family. They are asked for papers and about what they are carrying then required to give a portion just to visit their families.
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http://www.ojinagahoy.com.mx/nota.pl?id ... fault&web=

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The immigration bill before Arizona is really inhumane and a disgrace to humanity, but equally so and as inhuman is the hunt for fellow Mexican authorities made every pilgrimage we make to Mexico.

El simple acto de traer placas de Texas, no mexicanas obviamente, es la única razón de que te paren y te saquen hasta el último quinto que llevas a tus seres queridos. The simple act of bringing gifts from Texas, not Mexico is obviously the only reason that you stop and you take the last fifth to take your loved ones.

Es el mismo trato que las autoridades de Arizona aplicaran a los inmigrantes, solo por la razón de ser morenitos y de vestir como campesino. It's the same deal that Arizona officials applied to immigrants, only by reason of being brown-skinned and dressed as a farmer.

Pero lo mismo la han hecho las autoridades mexicanas por años a todos nosotros que viajamos al interior de México en vacaciones. But just as the Mexican authorities have done for years all of us who travel into Mexico on vacation.

Nos paran en cada reten, por la única razón que llevamos unos cuantos dólares para disfrutar con nuestros familiares. We stop at each checkpoint, the only reason that we have a few dollars to spend with our families.

He tenido que darles de las cosas que llevo, por la simple razón que les guustan. I had to give the Mexican authorities the things I knew, for the simple reason that they want to.

Eso si es discriminación en su máximo esplendor. Yes, this is discrimination at its finest.

Que bueno que las autoridades están tomando carta en el asunto de Arizona, espero que pronto asÃ* como nos protegen fuera del paÃ*s nos protejan dentro del paÃ*s. Good thing the Mexican authorities are taking matters into Arizona, hopefully soon and protect us overseas to protect us at home.

No sean racistas autoridades, trátenos a todos igualmente, no porque visitemos México en vacaciones y que vivamos en gringoladia… aun seguimos siendo Mexicanos. Do not be racist authorities treat us all equally, not because we visit Mexico on vacation and live in gringoladia ... yet we remain Mexican.

well, now arizona isnt such a good target for these aliens, so egar to trade sex for passage. they know ahead of time the cost of freight, get shots and bring cash. sick nasty mess.