DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY JACOBSON MEETS WITH

UNCLAS MEXICO 000750 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON MX PGOV PHUM PREL SUBJECT: DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY JACOBSON MEETS WITH NGOS TO DISCUSS THE MERIDA INITIATIVE ¶1. (SBU) Summary. On March 5, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Roberta Jacobson met with Mexican HUMAN rights/rule of law and security NGOs to address concerns about HUMAN RIGHTS and security related to the GOM's recent counter narcotics push and possible expanded U.S.-Mexico law enforcement cooperation. Jacobson said the U.S. remained committed to working with the GOM in this area and emphasized that NGO's can and should play a key role in strengthening security institutions at this juncture. Acknowledging HUMAN RIGHTS concerns here, Jacobson also noted that institutional improvements would over time lead to greater professionalism among security elements, and help curb RIGHTS abuses. End summary. 2, (U) NGO representatives present at the meeting included: Katia Ornelas, Director of Social and HUMAN Development at the National Institute for Women, Alejandro Villanueva, Spokesman for Hagamos Justicia, Carlos Rios, Advisor for Proderecho, Martha Gabriela Mendoza Heiras, Executive President, Citizen Security (Seguridad Ciudadana),Jose Antonio Ortega, Director of the Citizen COUNCIL for Public Security and Prison Justice, Jacobo Sanchez Lopez, Defense Attorney for the Indigenous in Oaxaca, Elizabeth Hernandez Reyes, Secretary for Indigenous Affairs and Ana Laura Magaloni, Academic Investigator, Center of Research and Economic Studies. ¶3. (SBU) The representatives raised the following issues: human rights, judicial reform, corruption, and the Merida Initiative --Human Rights: In providing DAS Jacobson with an overall picture, several NGOs expressed particular concern with gender-related violence. Katia Ornelas, Director of Social and HUMAN Development at the National Institute for Women (INMUJERES) said "Mexico should not only address problems in fighting organized crime but should focus on combating gender-related violence." Representatives from Oaxaca's indigenous community said that Mexico continues to confront ethnic-driven HUMAN RIGHTS problems. --Judicial Reform: Several NGOs were critical of the judicial reform bill passed by congress, saying that widespread impunity remains Mexico's most serious legal issue and that the reform would do little to address it. Ana Laura Magaloni, Academic Investigator from CIDE (Center for Research and Economic Studies) said implementing reform would be difficult, particularly in the area of training court personnel. However, indigenous groups from Oaxaca highlighted the benefits of recent judicial reforms passed in Oaxaca saying they have improved the legal RIGHTS of members of their community. --Corruption/transparency: NGOs also expressed concern with the lack of transparency among government agencies in Mexico, stressing in particular what they believe to the hermetic nature of the country's security forces. Both Carlos Rios, Advisor for Proderecho and Ornelas argued that the most important initiative the GOM could take in this regard would be to develop more transparent and more accountable operations among law enforcement agencies. At present, members of the public and civil society organizations have a difficult time obtaining data and information. --Merida Initiative: Although all of the NGOs conceded that enhanced bilateral cooperation through a program such as the Merida Initiative was warranted, most argued for shifts in emphasis away from what they perceived to be the initiative's focus on hardware and technology improvements. Rios recommended that the program focus more on improving policing at the state level, support a professionalized public defender function and boost salaries for police and other justice officials to stem corruption. Similarly, Martha Gabriela Mendoza Heiras, Executive President of Citizen Security suggested that Merida funds focus more on information sharing among federal, state and local law enforcement entities, saying there is currently very poor interface among them. ¶4. (SBU) Comment: Despite their concerns with what they cited as significant deficiencies among Mexico's security forces, none of the representatives present objected outright to expanded cooperation, saying that Mexico needs U.S. support. As ever, each had his or her own special focus or concern that should be addressed through such support. Visit Mexico City's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/mexicocity and the North American Partnership Blog at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap / GARZA