Conflict Of Interests In Mexico May Affect Human Rights

By Rodrigo Cervantes
Published: Monday, December 2, 2019 - 5:05am
Updated: Monday, December 2, 2019 - 8:34am
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MEXICO CITY — Mexico’s National Human Rights Commission, an autonomous institution that monitors the government, has a new leader. Controversy, however, surrounds the selection.

Rosario Piedra has been a lifelong human rights activist, following her mother's steps, but Piedra is also a militant of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s party, Morena, and many are concerned about the conflict of interest brought by her designation as human rights commissioner.

Miguel Meza is a lawyer from the N.G.O. Mexicans Against Corruption and Impunity. He said Piedra’s appointment violates the law, but may remain unprosecuted.

“We are seeing a destruction of the checks and balances that constitute our country," Meza said. "I think that our democracy is in risk,” 

Meza said the Senate vote to elect Piedra was irregular and fraudulent, as the majority of legislators are also from the president’s party, and that López Obrador's government is trying to steer independent entities in its favor. 

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