Mexico torture cases increase 600 percent in 10 years

[Judi Lynn]

7. Torture in Mexico ‘out of control,’ Amnesty International says

Torture in Mexico ‘out of control,’ Amnesty International says

Human rights monitor Amnesty International finds complaints of torture by Mexican authorities has increased by 600 per cent in the past decade.

Oakland Ross Feature Writer, Published on Thu Sep 11 2014

The use of torture by Mexican security forces is “out of control” and now constitutes a national crisis, according to human rights watchdog Amnesty International.

A report released by the organization this month found that complaints of torture in Mexico have soared by 600 per cent in the past decade. Very few are ever investigated.

“It truly is a crisis,” said Alex Neve, secretary general of the organization’s Canadian chapter, who is in Mexico to draw attention to the report. “There’s no better word for it.”

The problem is concentrated along the troubled U.S.-Mexico border, said Neve, but affects all regions of the country to some degree.

“It truly is national in scope.”

Neve called on Ottawa to place more emphasis on human rights issues in its bilateral dealings with Mexico.

“The Canadian government should be much more serious about this,” he said. “We need to see Canada put this issue in front of the Mexican government.”


Read more: http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2014/09/11/torture_in_mexico_out_of_control_amnesty_international_says.html