WRITTEN QUESTION E-0572/03

by Luigi Vinci (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(28 February 2003)

Subject: EU-Mexico relations and the Digna Ochoa case

The famous lawyer Digna Ochoa y Placido, known all over the world for her work in defence of human rights, was murdered in Mexico City on 19 October 2001. The judicial proceedings concerning the Digna Ochoa case have aroused indignation, in particular attempts to shelve the investigations on the part of the deputy Attorney General Sales Heredia, who was forced to resign after being denounced by organisations belonging to Mexican civil society.

Since the importance of the case transcends the borders of Mexico, does the Council not consider that it should closely monitor events in connection with the murder investigation, and can it say what its assessment of the case is?

Does the Council not consider that the issue should be raised in all contacts between the EU and Mexico, not least in view of the fact that the Treaty between the Union and Mexico contains a democratic clause which can definitely be used to exert due political pressure to try to put a rapid and definitive end to human rights violations in Mexico?

Reply

(22 July 2003)

1. The Council would point out that the European Union, in a public declaration on 29 October 2001, firmly condemned the killing of Ms Digna Ochoa y Plácido, a leading human rights activist in Mexico. On the same occasion, the EU said it was convinced that the Mexican Government would continue its efforts to uphold and safeguard human rights and to protect the physical integrity of human rights campaigners. The European Union also expressed its hope that the killing of Ms Ochoa y Plácido would be investigated without delay and the culprits identified and brought to justice.

On several occasions, whenever the issue has been raised, the Mexican authorities have said that the investigation into Ms Ochoa's murder was still underway, but had not yet produced any significant results. The Council of the EU reaffirms its intention to follow this matter closely.

2. The Council has on several occasions examined the human rights situation in Mexico and expressed its concerns. In their contacts with the Mexican authorities, EU and Member States' representatives have frequently raised issues concerning the protection of human rights in Mexico and have voiced their concerns regarding various aspects of this problem.

The Council would recall that the human rights situation in Mexico was examined in depth at the last meeting of senior officials, which took place in Puebla (Mexico) on 3 October 2002 within the framework of the political dialogue between the EU and Mexico. On that occasion, EU representatives voiced their concern regarding some specific cases of violations of human rights in Mexico, including the one referred to by the Honourable Member. In particular, it mentioned harassment, death threats and assaults directed against persons and organisations working for the defence of human rights in Mexico. At that meeting, the EU reminded the Mexican authorities that it was prepared to continue cooperating with them on this matter. At the EU-Mexico Joint Committee meeting, which took place the same day, the two parties agreed to strengthen their cooperation in the specific area of human rights and democracy.

The European Union raised this issue at the EU-Mexico Joint Council meeting, which was held in Vouliagmeni on 27 March 2003. At the end of the meeting, delegations expressed their firm attachment to the universal nature of human rights and emphasised that the international community had a shared responsibility in this area. They undertook to take the necessary measures to step up awareness of human rights worldwide.