Mexico's role in the normative evolution of the Inter-American Human Rights System

Mexico's Legal Contributions to the Inter-American System 

Mexico has played an active role in the consolidation of the Inter-American Human Rights System, both in the contentious and normative spheres. Since its acceptance of the contentious jurisdiction of the Inter-American Court ("Court") in 1998, Mexico has promoted constitutional reforms that recognise the supra-constitutional hierarchy of human rights treaties, and has incorporated jurisprudential criteria of the Court in domestic judicial decisions.

In recent years, Mexico has promoted the creation of mechanisms to follow up on the recommendations of the IACHR, as well as the adoption of regional protocols on forced disappearances, migration and the rights of persons with disabilities. The proposal presented this week seeks to comply with the deadlines for the admission of cases, strengthen the role of victims in public hearings and promote interoperability between national judicial systems and the Inter-American system.

Implications for the region and next steps 

The Mexican proposal will be discussed at the OAS General Assembly in November 2025, and could set a precedent in the normative evolution of the system. Several experts have pointed out that the initiative contributes to reducing procedural fragmentation among states parties and to improving the effectiveness of the system in the protection of fundamental rights.

The Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Alicia Bárcena, stressed that Mexico reaffirms its commitment to legal multilateralism and to strengthening regional protection mechanisms.

She also stressed that the country will continue to promote reforms that guarantee effective access to international justice for all persons.

In this context, ECIJA is at the disposal of institutions, organisations and individuals interested in understanding the legal scope of these reforms, as well as in actively participating in the processes of consultation and regulatory adaptation that will result from them.

Report prepared by the International Area of ECIJA Mexico