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The work of Mexico's Interministerial Committee on International Humanitarian Law

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 August 2015

Mariana Salazar Albornoz
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Abstract

In the six years since it was created, the Comisión Intersecretarial de Derecho Internacional Humanitario de México, Mexico's Interministerial Committee on International Humanitarian Law, has become one of the region's most active national bodies for the implementation of international humanitarian law (IHL). Its achievements are the result of the efforts of the federal executive branch agencies that form and participate in the Committee, as well as of the support that the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Mexican Red Cross have provided to facilitate its work. In this article, the author describes the structure and operation of the Committee, as well as the activities it has carried out in fulfilling its mandate to disseminate and promote respect for IHL rules, principles and institutions and further the national implementation of IHL.

Keywords

CIDIH-Mexiconational IHL committeesinternational humanitarian lawMexico
Type
Reports and Documents
Information
International Review of the Red Cross , Volume 96 , Issue 895-896: Generating respect for the law , December 2014 , pp. 1049 - 1059
Copyright
Copyright © icrc 2015 

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References

1 For a list of the IHL and related treaties to which Mexico is a party, see International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), 2012–2013 Report: Implementing IHL: Participation of the American States in International Humanitarian Law Treaties and their National Implementation, December 2013, Part I, pp. 12–15, available at: www.icrc.org/eng/assets/files/publications/t0276-2013.pdf.

2 For a list of UN Security Council meetings, resolutions and presidential statements on protection of civilians in armed conflict, see: www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/documents/sc_poc_meetings.pdf. A complete description of the open debates can be found at: www.securitycouncilreport.org/protection-of-civilians/.

3 For a list of UN Security Council resolutions on women, peace and security, see: www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/issues/women/wps.shtml. A complete description of the open debates can be found at: www.securitycouncilreport.org/women-peace-and-security/.

4 For a list of UN Security Council resolutions on children and armed conflict, see: www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/issues/children/index.shtml. A complete description of the open debates can be found at: www.securitycouncilreport.org/children-and-armed-conflict/.

5 Mexico chaired this working group during its non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council. For more information on the Security Council's Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict, see: www.un.org/sc/committees/WGCAAC/. The results of Mexico's chairmanship can be consulted in Víctor Sánchez Colín and Ifigenia Argueta, “Contribuciones de México a la Protección de la Infancia Afectada por el Conflicto Armado”, in Roberto Dondisch (ed.), México en el Consejo de Seguridad de la ONU: La historia tras bambalinas, Debate, Mexico, 2012, pp. 127–148.

6 In its capacity as regional promoter of this initiative, Mexico organized an international seminar entitled “Time to Act: Voices of Latin America – The Eradication of Sexual Violence, Including that Committed during Conflict Situations”, held on 12–13 May 2014 in Mexico City. See: http://saladeprensa.sre.gob.mx/index.php/es/comunicados/4116-195.

7 The resolution was adopted yearly from 1995 to 2011. In 2011, following a policy of rationalization of resolutions within the OAS, it was decided that its adoption would be on a two-yearly basis. The resolution, adopted in 2013, can be consulted at: www.oas.org/en/sla/dil/docs/AG-RES_2795_XLIII-O-13_eng.pdf.

8 Pledges and follow-up to the 30th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, Government of Mexico, Pledge P020, available at: www.icrc.org/applic/P130e.nsf/va_PBGO/838436C15C1D6349C125739C003B9AD2?openDocument&section=PBGO.

9 The Executive Order that created CIDIH-Mexico, as published in Mexico's Federal Official Gazette, is available at: http://dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=5105965&fecha=19/08/2009.

10 See ICRC, “Table of National Committees and other National Bodies on International Humanitarian Law”, 31 August 2014, available at: www.icrc.org/en/document/table-national-committees-and-other-national-bodies-international-humanitarian-law.

11 Executive Order, above note 9, Art. 1. Author's translation.

12 The Rules of Procedure of CIDIH-Mexico, as published in Mexico's Federal Official Gazette, can be consulted at: http://dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=5203489&fecha=04/08/2011.

13 The conclusions and recommendations of the 2010 International Conference can be consulted in ICRC, 2010–2011 Report: Implementing IHL: Participation of the American States in International Humanitarian Law Treaties and Their National Implementation, December 2011, Annex A, pp. 39–40, available at: www.icrc.org/eng/assets/files/publications/icrc-002-t0276.pdf.

14 ICRC, Preventing and Repressing International Crimes: Towards an “Integrated” Approach Based in Domestic Practice, Report of the Third Universal Meeting of National Committees for the Implementation of International Humanitarian Law, 29 August 2013, available at: www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/publication/p4138.htm.

15 The full text of the pledge can be consulted at: www.icrc.org/pledges/pledge.xsp?&documentId=0D0FD71ADD5002DCC12579580037A49C&action=openDocument.

16 The conclusions and recommendations of the Regional Seminar can be consulted in ICRC, above note 13, Annex B, p. 40.

17 The conclusions and recommendations of the Americas Conference can be consulted in ICRC, above note 1, Annex A, p. 39.

18 A list of activities of the Latin American Network for Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention can be consulted at: http://redlatinoamericana.org/.

19 The full text of the pledge made in 2007 can be consulted at: www.icrc.org/applic/P130e.nsf/va_PBGO/838436C15C1D6349C125739C003B9AD2?openDocument&section=PBGO.

20 The full text of the pledge made in 2011 can be consulted at: www.icrc.org/pledges/pledge.xsp?&documentId=0D0FD71ADD5002DCC12579580037A49C&action=openDocument.

21 The results of the Annual National Specialized Course on IHL are available at the following press releases and links: 2010 course: http://saladeprensa.sre.gob.mx/index.php/es/comunicados/588-324; 2011 course:

www.sedena.gob.mx/derechos-humanos/actividades-coordinadas/comite-internacional-de-la-cruz-roja-(cicr)?movil=true; 2012 course: http://2006-2012.semar.gob.mx/component/content/article/39-dih/2228-tercer-curso-dih.html; 2013 course: www.gobernacion.gob.mx/es/SEGOB/Cuarto_curso_anual_DIH; 2014 course: http://saladeprensa.sre.gob.mx/index.php/es/comunicados/4954-436.

22 The Law Concerning the Use and Protection of the Red Cross Name and Emblem is available at: www.dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=4966327&fecha=23/03/2007.

23 The regulations of the Law Concerning the Use and Protection of the Red Cross Name and Emblem can be consulted at: www.dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=5338043&fecha=25/03/2014.

24 Representatives of CIDIH-Mexico presented the content of the regulations in events carried out in the following frameworks: (i) the Commemoration of the World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day organized by the Mexican Red Cross, held on 8 May 2014 in Mexico City and directed to the volunteers of the Red Cross; (ii) the National Convention on Civil Protection, held from 12 to 16 May 2014 in Acapulco, Guerrero, directed to the civil protection officers of each of the thirty-two local entities of Mexico; and (iii) the 47th Mexican Red Cross National Convention, held from 1 to 4 October 2014 in San Luis Potosí, directed to national and local Red Cross counsellors.

25 These sites are the Ancient Maya City of Calakmul, Campeche; the Pre-Hispanic City of Chichen-Itza; the Archaeological Site of Monte Albán; the Pre-Hispanic City and National Park of Palenque; the Archaeological Zone of Paquimé, Casas Grandes; the Pre-Hispanic City of El Tajin; the Pre-Hispanic City of Teotihuacan; the Pre-Hispanic Town of Uxmal (ceremonial sites of Uxmal, Kabah, Labna and Sayil); and the Archaeological Monuments Zone of Xochicalco.

26 See Mexico pledge P020, above note 8.

27 ICRC, above note 14, Chapter 4.