Llamado a la adopción de una Ley General contra la Tortura que sienta las bases para la erradicación de la tortura
Geneva – Mexico, D.F., 24 September 2015. With just over100 days left before the deadline for the approval of a new General Law againsttorture,[1] CMDPDH and OMCThave published an authoritative study entitled "Proposalfor the adoption of an effective, nationwide law on torture and cruel, inhumanor degrading treatment or punishment". The document will besubmitted to the members of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, followingthe start of the regular sessions of the Congress of the Union in earlySeptember (Legislature LXVVV).
This study callsupon the competent authorities in the legislative process to create a set of firmlegal standards to put an end to the persistent practice of torture. Thedocument by CMDPDH and OMCT presents the key elements for the new law ontorture, based on the obligations to prevent and eradicate torture and cruel,inhuman or degrading treatment that Mexico is bound by.
"It isnecessary and essential to adopt a General Law that criminalizes torture andother cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and sets out thehighest international standards on an effective prosecution of acts of torture,"said José Antonio Guevara, Executive Director of the CMDPDH.
There arecurrently no mechanisms that ensure transparency and proper public consultationin the process of elaboration of the new law. In this context, CMDPDH and OMCT,in coordination with other non-governmental organisations, have requested that the Executive and Legislative FederalBranches establish mechanisms allowing for dialogue and for the adequate and meaningfulconsultation with members of civil society and anti-torture organisations.
"In ourglobal experience it is vital for the establishment of an effective legalframework of torture to consult with those affected, civil society andanti-torture organisations. There are plenty of experience of countries thathave adopted similar pieces of legislation that could inform the debate on thenew law in Mexico," said Gerald Staberock, Secretary General of the OMCT.
Bothorganisations believe that the adoption of a new law and the inclusion of aparticipatory process will be a litmus test of the commitment for theeradication of torture of Mexican authorities.
Forfurther information, please contact:
Mariana Gurrola, CMDPDH
E-mail: comunicacion@cmdpdh.org
Tel: +52 (55)55642582, ext. 114
Astrid Salcedo Pinzón, OMCT
E-mail: asp@omct.org
Tel: +41 228094939
[1] Pursuant to the decree published in the OfficialJournal of the Federation on July 10, 2015 that called for the amendment ofArticle 73 of the Constitution.