Mexico: UN and regional experts call for peace after violent election campaign
GENEVA/WASHINGTON D.C. (8 June 2021) – After a deadly election campaign, UN and Organization of American States (OAS) human rights experts* today called on Mexican authorities to make sure the post-election period is peaceful, and to investigate killings and human rights violations in the run-up to the Sunday vote, as well as polling day itself.
“We call on Mexican authorities to put an end to the intense polarisation of public life and to ensure that future elections are held peacefully,” the experts said. “We call for full and transparent investigations into the killings of political candidates and into the many violations of human rights that occurred during the campaign and on election day. This is the only way for Mexico to move forward democratically.”
“In spite of the violence surrounding the electoral period we recognise the efforts of the government to counteract violence, including the recent implementation of a strategy to curb political violence and threats against candidates, and the genuine efforts to ensure that no voter was discriminated against” the experts said.
With more than 20,000 seats up for election, it was Mexico’s biggest election ever. Mexicans voted for 500 members of the lower house of congress and 15 governors of states, as well as thousands of local officials.