The ineffectiveness of the Mexican system of justice allows most violations of human rights to go unpunished. Ordinary courts lack jurisdiction to try members of the armed forces for violations of human rights committed against civilians. This erodes the independence of these courts.
The main problems affecting the judiciary are related to long delays in trials and widespread corruption.
At least 31 judges, lawyers and prosecutors were the target of threats, intimidation or physical attacks during the year. More than 100 other people associated with the administration of justice were also the subjects of harassment.
The year was dominated by the events related to the arrest of General (retd.) Augusto Pinochet in the United Kingdom and the investigations into past human rights violations involving Pinochet and other high-ranking retired military officers.
Frequent allegations of threats, intimidation and attacks on judges and prosecutors, as well as an ineffective or insufficient system of protection within the judiciary for those targeted by such threats, are the main obstacles for the independence of the judiciary in Guatemala.
El Salvador: Crimes against humanity within the framework of public security policy
HRC61: Joint oral statement of The ICJ in the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Counter-terrorism and Human Rights
A Human Rights-Based Approach to Decriminalizing Conduct Associated with Poverty and Status
HRC61: Oral statement of The ICJ in the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities