Quarterly Progress Report: Promoviendo la Rendición de Cuentas por los Derechos Humanos (RED-DH)

The activity is a five-year cost-plus fixed fee completion contract that will enhance the capacity and commitment of the Government of Mexico (GOM) to provide effective and accountable responses to grave human rights violations. The GOM has responded to the human rights crisis with diverse initiatives, including the approval of the General Laws on Torture and on Forced Disappearances in 2017. To ensure the implementation of these laws at the federal and state levels, RED-DH will work with GOM counterparts, including decentralized and autonomous institutions, targeted subnational government entities, forensic experts, victims' collectives, and civil society. The theory of change underlying the RED-DH activity is that if the effectiveness of Mexico's human rights system is strengthened, including the ability to provide oversight, coordination, and implementation of public policies and laws to address forced disappearances and torture, then the government will provide better responses to human rights abuses and greater accountability and closure to victims and their families. The target beneficiaries of the activity are both victims - families and relatives - of grave human rights violations, including forced disappearances and torture in Mexico. Institutional beneficiaries will also include federal and state-level Search Commissions as well as the General Prosecutor's Office. Mexico has a complex human rights background, with a population exceeding 130 million and a federal republic comprised of 32 states. The country has a history of human rights violations, including enforced disappearances, which increased drastically after 2006. The GOM has taken steps to address these issues, including the passage of the General Law for Victims in 2013 and the publication of the General Law on Torture in 2017. The RED-DH activity will focus on strengthening national oversight mechanisms and enhancing inter-governmental coordination, supporting state-level implementation of laws and safeguards to prevent and respond to human rights abuses, and providing targeted forensic technical assistance to address the backlog of unidentified remains in five priority states. The activity will also prioritize gender and social inclusion, focusing on the needs of women, the LGBTQIA+ community, indigenous people, minors, people with disabilities, and journalists. The activity has a total estimated cost of $11,103,605.88, which will be executed through grants and subcontracts on behalf of USAID. The reporting period for this quarterly progress report is Year Four, Quarter One (October to December 2023).