President Enrique Pena Nieto Signs the General Law of Victims Aigul Safiullina - argentinaindependent.com
go to original January 11, 2013

The Victims Act recognizes the right of victims to receive help, support and care for themselves and their families, by the state. (Presidency of the Republic)

Yesterday Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto signed a General Law of Victims, proposed and rejected during the administration of his predecessor Felipe Calderon.

The law establishes 189 articles that guarantee respect to the rights of victims of crime and human rights violations. Additionally, it sets up a compensation fund.

The General Law of Victims includes the creation of the National Victims Registry as well as an Executive Committee to assist and protect people who suffered violations of their rights.

The Human Rights Commission of the Federal District (CDHDF) celebrated the publication of this law in the Official Journal of the Federation (Diario Oficial de la Federación, in Spanish), a publication that issues regulations and orders of the federal government.

Javier Sicilia, a poet, activist and leader of the Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity (MPJD), said the Victims Law is the first step towards achieving justice and commemorating victims of crime in Mexico.

In March 2011 his son Juan Francisco Sicilia was tortured, killed, and left in a car in the state of Morelos, located 130 kilometres from the capital.

Over 70,000 people have become victims of drug violence since 2006 in Mexico, and the number might be still higher, as several thousands remain disappeared.

Source: Agencia Púlsar

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