Mexico: Lack of determination to eliminate arraigo and mandatory pre-trial detention

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ITEM 6: Adoption of the UPR - Mexico

Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review - Mexico

5 July 2024

Oral Statement by: Oswaldo Rodríguez Salvatierra

We thank the community of States that have made important recommendations to the Mexican State as part of this Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

We regret that the Mexican State does not firmly accept the recommendations related to the demilitarisation of the National Guard and does not show strong signals to eliminate the arraigo and the informal pre-trial detention, as ordered by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and the UN Committee against Torture.

My name is Oswaldo Rodríguez Salvatierra, and in August 2002, I was arbitrarily detained by police from the State of Mexico and tortured in the facilities of the Tlaxcala State Prosecutor's Office. My father, Sergio, as well as Jorge, Mario, Hugo and José María, were also arrested without a warrant and tortured. José María died in detention 10 years later as a result of the torture he suffered. I was acquitted 14 years later, as no evidence was found against me. But my father, Sergio, Jorge, Mario and Hugo are still unjustly imprisoned. After more than 22 years, they are still waiting for a sentence, even though the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) of this Council declared our detention arbitrary. So far, none of us have received reparations for the torture we suffered.

The Mexican State must fully comply with the recommendations of this Council because, in my country, innocent people continue to be arbitrarily detained and tortured. Hundreds of people are still in prison awaiting sentencing.

Thank you very much.