Primary Article:
On November 5, 2024, the Senate of the Republic proposed a shortlist of three women candidates to lead Mexico’s National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) for a five-year term starting November 16, 2024. The candidates nominated by the joint committees of Human Rights and Justice include Paulina Hernández Diz, María Del Rosario Piedra Ibarra, and Nashieli Ramírez Hernández.
Nashieli Ramírez Hernández has been serving as the head of the Human Rights Commission in Mexico City since November 2017. Paulina Hernández Diz holds the position of executive secretary at the Jalisciense Women’s Institute since 2015. Meanwhile, María Del Rosario Piedra Ibarra, currently presiding over the CNDH since November 2019, seeks a second term. On October 15, 2024, she officially registered her candidacy for reconsideration by the Senate.
Piedra Ibarra communicated her decision to the CNDH’s workforce, emphasizing the need for continuity in their work and urging her colleagues not to divert resources for her campaign. Despite some support for her continued presidency, internal evaluations have sparked criticism. The Agustín Pro Human Rights Center published a report titled “CNDH: Balance of Institutional Weakening during 2019-2024,” highlighting concerns over the organization’s perceived diminished autonomy under Piedra Ibarra’s leadership.
The report notes that although the CNDH issued more recommendations than in previous terms, they were often of lower quality and focused on issues from past administrations, notably involving the Armed Forces. During Piedra Ibarra’s leadership, significant issues such as arbitrary detentions and torture were noted, but with inadequate action. The report underscores a reduction in the application of constitutional challenges against legislation, now directed mostly at state laws rather than federal initiatives.
Secondary Article:
Amid the ongoing nomination process for the National Human Rights Commission’s top position, the discourse surrounding María Del Rosario Piedra Ibarra’s tenure continues to create waves. Recent discussions have brought to light a broader discontent with her management style and the CNDH’s performance under her command. Advocates for change argue that her leadership has led the agency to downplay critical human rights issues, drawing a stark contrast between proposed reforms and actual outcomes.
The incoming presidential selection marks not only a pivotal moment for the CNDH but also underscores the tension within the broader human rights landscape in Mexico. As stakeholders await the final decision, attention remains focused on how new leadership could reshape the commission’s future role in advocating for and safeguarding human rights across the country. The expectations for a renewed, proactive stance on chronic issues such as arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, and the mishandling of military involvement are high, reflecting a deep-rooted demand for substantial reform.