Human Rights Watch Calls for Rejection of Mexican President’s Reforms

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged the Mexican Congress to reject a series of reforms proposed by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, citing concerns about their potential to undermine judicial independence, increase the power of the military, and weaken human rights safeguards. HRW expressed particular concern over the judicial reform, which would remove thousands of judges and allow for their replacement through popular vote. The organization also criticized the proposed elimination of the National Institute of Transparency, Access to Information, and Protection of Data (INAI), which ensures access to government information. They also voiced alarm over the plan to permanently transfer the National Guard to the control of the Ministry of Defense, citing the military’s history of human rights violations. Additionally, HRW criticized the proposed expansion of pre-trial detention, noting that it could lead to more people being incarcerated without a trial.