Urgent Action outcome: Mexican congress boosts arbitrary detentions

Despite national and international outcry, Mexican Congress passed a Constitutional amendment that forces judges to order pre-trial detention in cases involving a broad series of crimes. Contrary to international law, the reform does not provide that judges can waive it or assess any evidence before determining if such deprivation of liberty is appropriate.

The amendment to article 19 of the Constitution is still pending approval by state-level congresses. It needs to be approved by 17 state-level congresses. So far, Campeche state and Chiapas state have approved this bill, and there seems to be very little chance of stopping approval through a mass action aimed at local congresses.

Please see the Amnesty International report “False Suspicious: Arbitrary Detentions by Police in Mexico” for more information about pre-trial detention in Mexico.

NO FURTHER ACTION IS REQUESTED FROM THE NETWORK. MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO SENT APPEALS.

This is the 1st and final update for UA 202/18 More information: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/amr41/9993/2019/en/