Quarter 1 Year Three of EnfoqueDH Human Rights Public Policy Activity

The Activity solidified old and new partnerships with civil society organizations and the government of Mexico, positioning itself as a necessary resource for technical assistance. This allowed EnfoqueDH to widen its spectrum of potential partners and address pressing needs and concerns voiced by key stakeholders. EnfoqueDH supported and facilitated dialogue among civil society and between civil society organizations and the government of Mexico to reflect and assess the challenges and needs of an effective implementation of the laws on Prevention of Torture and Forced Disappearance. Special attention was placed on guaranteeing the participation of families of victims in active investigations of missing persons, facilitating the use of forensic evidence to further those investigations, and providing recommendations for the registry of missing persons. The Activity also began implementing activities aimed at improving the investigation and prosecution of the crimes of femicide and crimes against lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and intersex (LGBTI) persons. This move towards a more complete portfolio that addresses the needs of more vulnerable populations is a significant step forward. In terms of the development of prevention tools, EnfoqueDH achieved interesting results in the application of a risk analysis methodology capable of identifying critical incidents that could potentially lead to gross human rights violations. The methodology proved to be flexible and adaptable to different contexts and needs, constituting a valuable prevention tool. EnfoqueDH obtained the necessary buy-in from the National Security Commission to adapt and implement the Activity's prevention of the use of force toolkit and possibly influence national policy on this matter. The Activity's collaboration with the municipality of Guadalajara bore fruit with the approval of the 2018 budget that includes a specific Gender Annex, facilitating a more effective resource allocation and increase in specific funding for human rights and gender-related activities of almost $9 million MXN. At the federal level, EnfoqueDH experienced more limited progress mainly due to several changes in leadership of key government counterparts, particularly in the Ministry of the Interior. Despite these disruptions, EnfoqueDH has continued to request and hold meetings to ensure open lines of communication with these key counterparts and offer assistance primarily with respect to prioritizing and advancing their human rights agendas in the final months of the current administration. Noteworthy during the quarter was the development of communications campaigns and the production of audiovisual material aimed at raising awareness on gross human rights violations occurring in Mexico. The campaign targets a wide public, allowing the Activity and the human rights community in Mexico to voice their concerns, share their plight, and mobilize support for human rights issues. EnfoqueDH's efforts to improve the investigation and prosecution of crimes against vulnerable populations, such as women and LGBTI individuals, are a significant step forward in addressing the needs of these groups. The Activity's collaboration with the municipality of Guadalajara and the development of prevention tools, such as the risk analysis methodology, demonstrate its commitment to preventing and protecting human rights in Mexico. The Activity's experience with limited progress at the federal level highlights the challenges of working with government counterparts, particularly during times of leadership change. However, EnfoqueDH's continued efforts to maintain open lines of communication and offer assistance to these counterparts demonstrate its commitment to advancing human rights agendas in Mexico. Overall, EnfoqueDH's progress during Quarter One of Year Three demonstrates its continued commitment to consolidating tools and mechanisms to prevent and protect human rights in Mexico. The Activity's efforts to address pressing needs and concerns, develop prevention tools, and improve the investigation and prosecution of crimes against vulnerable populations are significant steps forward in advancing human rights in Mexico.