In light of the assassination of world-renowned human rights attorney Digna Ochoa in 2001, human rights have drawn increasing attention in Mexico. The Fox administration has compiled a dismal record on human rights, despite rhetorical commitments to make improvements. Fox appointed former army general Rafael Macedo de la Concha as federal Attorney General. Macedo's commitment to justice is challenged by his loyalty to the army. Perhaps the most telling example is his unique interpretation of the Mexican constitution. According to Macedo, army personnel who commit civil crimes like murder and rape cannot by prosecuted by civilian courts, leaving justice in the hands of military courts that have shown no willingness to prosecute their own.

Human rights abuses, including attacks against well-known human rights defenders, such as Abel Barrera of the Tlachinollan Mountain Human Rights Center , is on the rise in Mexico. In this context, public opinion plays a key role, often the most important role, in defense of fundamental human rights.

The human rights and militarization programs of the Mexico Solidarity Network are closely linked, since many human rights abuses are perpetrated by the army. The program includes delegations from the US that investigate some of the most egregious cases of abuses and that provide visibility and protection for human rights defenders and communities that are under threat.

Our program features a series of tours in the US by world-renowned human rights activists from Mexico who develop direct links with US civil society, gain access to the mainstream media, and develop direct relations with members of Congress.

Our series of Congressional delegations provide Congressional staff with firsthand experience in affected communities. Congressional staff are motivated and informed when they return to the US.

The Mexico Solidarity Network is an active member of the Latin America Working Group (LAWG) and often takes a leading role in Mexico-related work.

Much of our Congressional education and grassroots work is focused on enforcement of the Leahy Law. This year, we are teaming with Global Exchange, members of the AGJ, and other Latin America solidarity committees to launch a campaign to implement the Leahy Law. The Leahy Law prohibits most types of U.S. foreign aid and Defense Department training programs from foreign military and police units where there is credible evidence that a unit carried out human rights violations. It calls for U.S. Embassies to maintain databases documenting units that receive U.S. assistance, and to monitor the use of this assistance.

The Leahy Law arose from efforts to control the flow of U.S. military aid to Colombia. Human rights groups working to limit aid encountered State Department and other officials who argued that the "all or nothing" sanctions approach to foreign aid was too harsh since it was only "isolated" elements in the security forces that carried out human rights violations. The Leahy Law tackled the argument that violations are committed by "a few bad apples" by mandating an aid prohibition only to the offending units. This prohibition could be lifted if and when the foreign government took effective measures to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The Leahy Law is important because it requires the U.S. to monitor human rights issues in countries where we provide foreign aid and military training and gives the U.S. government a positive human rights tool for confronting impunity. Because aid can be resumed when violators are brought to justice, the country has a positive incentive to prosecute human rights violators.

Even with the Law in place, Embassies must be constantly encouraged to implement the law and their efforts must be reviewed. Unfortunately, in Mexico, the U.S. Embassy has done very little to implement the law, despite the work that U.S. and Mexican human rights organizations have done to document abuses. It appears that the Bush Administration may attempt to eliminate the Leahy Law. Grassroots support for this important piece of legislation is more important than ever.

Our campaign focuses on mobilizing people to demand that Members of Congress reject any attempt to eliminate the law, and take and active role in implementation by requesting detailed reports on Leahy Law implementation from the U.S.