Toward a New Moment in Mexico’s Human Rights Foreign Policy

Mexico’s human rights foreign policy finds itself at a new moment characterized by the strengthening of ties to the international system. The country has opened itself up to scrutiny, established a policy of complying with its obligations and promoting the enforcement of international standards. It has also adopted a constructive attitude and taken the lead at human rights forums. Notwithstanding, both the international and domestic context have undergone changes since the current administration took office. Recent constitutional reform on human rights and the passing of a federal law on international cooperation are an invitation for Mexico to revise its priorities and strategies in these areas. On an international level, as Fernández and Padilla point out, the process of gradually building a new human rights agenda and the adoption of the notion that States are responsible for complying with their obligations are evolving areas to which Mexico can actively contribute.
In this respect, the authors suggest Mexico consolidate and promote a comprehensive human rights foreign policy by seizing opportunities to foster the participation of civil society, mainstreaming and cooperation in the area of human rights, the new human rights agenda, the universal character of human rights and the “responsibility to protect” principle.