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

The activity began implementation in August 2020 and is a five-year cost-plus fixed-fee completion contract. The purpose of RED-DH is to strengthen national oversight mechanisms and enhance inter-governmental coordination, support state-level implementation of laws and safeguards to prevent and respond to human rights abuses, and provide targeted forensic technical assistance to address the backlog of unidentified remains in five priority states: Coahuila, Jalisco, Puebla, Sonora, and Veracruz. The activity is divided into three components: Component 1, Component 2, and Component 3. Component 1 focuses on strengthening national oversight mechanisms and enhancing inter-governmental coordination. This includes working with GOM counterparts at the federal and state levels, including decentralized and autonomous institutions and targeted subnational government entities, forensic experts, victims' collectives, and civil society. Component 2 supports state-level implementation of laws and safeguards to prevent and respond to human rights abuses. This includes providing technical assistance to state-level institutions and supporting the implementation of the General Laws on Torture and on Forced Disappearances. Component 3 provides targeted forensic technical assistance to address the backlog of unidentified remains in the five priority states. This includes providing training and technical assistance to forensic experts and supporting the implementation of the Mass Graves Module of the National Registry of Graves. The activity has a geographic scope that includes the five priority states: Coahuila, Jalisco, Puebla, Sonora, and Veracruz. However, due to restrictions imposed by the US government, RED-DH was initially suspended from working with Veracruz's Prosecutor's Office. In December 2022, the suspension was lifted, and RED-DH is now able to collaborate with the State's General Directorate of the Ministerial Police. The activity has defined work plans in five states and specific interventions in the states of Tabasco and Nuevo León. Additionally, it carries out coordinated activities in the State of Mexico, San Luis Potosí, and Morelos. RED-DH is currently evaluating opportunities to collaborate with the State Search Commission of Sinaloa and representatives of the Judicial Power of Durango. 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. The activity has a gender and social inclusion perspective, recognizing that certain groups, such as women, children, migrants, indigenous peoples, Afro-descendants, and people deprived of their liberty, are disproportionately affected by human rights violations. RED-DH's priority population includes women, the LGBTQI+ community, indigenous people, minors, people with disabilities, and journalists. The activity is funded by USAID and has a total estimated cost of $[amount]. RED-DH will be able to execute up to $[amount] in grants and subcontracts on behalf of USAID. The activity is currently in its third year, with the reporting period covering January 1, 2023, to March 31, 2023.