Security for everybody at the WTO Cancun Meeting

Mexico: Security for everybody at the WTO meeting in Cancun

In the run-up to the World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting -- scheduled to take place in Cancun, Mexico between 10 and 14 September 2003 -- and the planned demonstrations and protests, Amnesty International has urged the Mexican government to ensure that the right to freedom of expression, peaceful demonstration and freedom of movement are fully respected.

"Activists from all over the world have the right to travel to Cancun to express their legitimate concerns regarding world trade regulations and issues concerning social and economic rights," Amnesty International said "The Mexican authorities must ensure these activists are allowed to protest freely without any hindrance and are allowed to express their opinions in a climate of mutual respect and tolerance."

In letters sent to President Vicente Fox Quesada and to the governor of the state of Quintana Roo, Lic Hendricks Diaz, Amnesty International called on the authorities to ensure that individual standards on the use of force and firearms by law enforcement are fully respected.

In a document called "10 basic human rights standards for law enforcement officials", prepared by Amnesty International in association with police officials and experts from different countries, the organization stressed the importance of the respect of human rights standards within the law enforcement and the criminal justice system. The documents also urges the government to ensure that all security agents, including members of private security companies, are subject to rigorous mechanisms of supervision and accountability.

For a full copy of the report: "10 basic human rights standards for law enforcement officials", please see: http://amnesty-news.c.tclk.net/maabqY9aa0pd2bb0hPub/

For more information on Economic globalization and human rights issues visit http://amnesty-news.c.tclk.net/maabqY9aa0pd5bb0hPub/

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