
The world community started establishing the system for encouraging and defending rights to the human person more than 70 years ago. The efforts of this group included that of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as declarations and legal treaties binding to both Europe as well as the Americas.
The principle behind the international human rights system as well as the massive global agitation about the issue could have had a beneficial and profound impact on standards of the rights of all people around the globe. Unfortunately, this hasn’t been the situation.
The Situation of Mexico
The gap between a dedication to human rights and a practical conformity is clear in the context of Mexico. In the 1990s the situation of human rights in Mexico is being closely monitored through the eyes of foreigners.
In 1994 the state of human rights within the country started to decline as a result of the state’s reaction to the indigenous revolt that was part of Ejercito Zapatista of Liberacion Nacional (EZLN) within the state of Chiapas. The uprising was characterized by the militarization of indigenous territories, the forced displacement of people as well as serious inhuman rights violations. One of the most notable is the death of 45 civilians (mostly females and children) during the Acteal massacre which was carried out by a paramilitary organization during the winter of 1997.
Since then the beginning of time, human rights organizations and other regional bodies have produced numerous critical documents regarding the situation of human rights in Mexico. They have also issued more than 22,000 specific recommendations on how to deal with the situation.
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has made decisions against Mexico in numerous specific cases and issued two reports that specifically address Mexico.. It is the Inter-American Court of Human Rights has issued seven judgments of condemnation.
In addition to other experts together with various expert groups Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts created by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights examined missing 43 pupils in the Ayotzinapa Teacher Training College located in Guerrero state in the year 2014. The group found that the state authorities had not done their proper diligence when treatment of the case.
Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch as well as Human Rights Watch and Washington Office on Latin America and Human Rights Watch, among others, have consistently pushed for pressure via campaign letters, campaigns and press announcements. In addition, there are numerous extremely critical articles on human rights abuses ranging from torture by police to forced disappearances, as well as extrajudicial murders. Amnesty International has reported that there were over 2,400 torturing complaints filed in the country in 2014but there was there is no evidence to suggest that any person was arrested.
Despite the ratification of international legal obligations that are binding (Mexico has ratified every human rights agreements internationally) and the constant international pressure, the nation has failed to progress in the respect of human rights laws.
The Gap In Compliance
What is the reason for this? Since the 90s, international relations scholars have been paying close at the effect of international norms as well as transnational movements on specific human rights policies of nations.
Their principal argument was that with the help of credible (and sometimes surprising) details regarding human rights abuses activists could influence rights-violating governments to alter their behavior.
As research has grown and morphed, we’ve arrived at an new conclusion. Although transnational activism has been a factor in the acceptance of human rights commitments from all types of government however, compliance levels have been mostly the same.
The difference between what countries are bound to when it comes to human rights and the way they implement them actually, is referred to as the “compliance gap”.
Researchers have discovered that the compliance of international human rights standards doesn’t depend upon the ratification of treaties, but is based on local institutions and social aspects. They include the nature of the regime as well as the independence of the judiciary, and the power of the civil society.
Now, we’re keen on the long-awaited yet difficult transition from commitment to conformity and also on the circumstances which could make it more probable.
What Is The Difference?
Mexico is an extremely global nation, and has aspirations to joining the ranks of contemporary democratic nations.
It’s a democracy in transition that has active civil society organizations that have been gaining support and arguing to defend the rights of human beings for a considerable period. These are all conditions that are associated with the greater likelihood of the country’s compliance to international standards.
Then, what is what is causing this gap? Researchers are looking into the possibility that some of the domestic elements that are a result of poor capacity in institutions including poor, inadequately trained, and over-resourced police force and criminal investigators, as well as prosecutors or judges “blocked” the effects of generally positive human rights practices and human rights-related conditions.
Another possibility is that the international pressures and commitments did not work as they ought to, and not created the motivation to alter behavior.
I’m currently researching this specific subject currently, and the outcomes are yet to be determined. The most likely solution is in the mixture of both variables.
Mexican authorities haven’t attempted to significantly alter the practices that lead to the widespread violation of human rights. And even when they did not had the tools needed to bring about significant changes.

