URGENT ACTION
bill to give armed forces control of security
Mexican legislators could pass a bill for a constitutional reform that would broaden the powers of the armed forces providing them wider policing authority and permission to remain on the streets of Mexico permanently. The bill is tabled for voting in the chamber of deputies.
On 14 December, members of the Mexican Congress finalized a bill that is now tabled for voting by the drafting commission and likely by the full chamber of deputies in coming days. The bill would amend thirteen articles of the Mexican Constitution to create a new security force called the “National Guard” that would be comprised of the armed forces (Army and Navy), and subsume the role of the Federal Police under a military model. If approved, the bill would pass to the Senate for discussion and vote.
In addition, the constitutional reform proposal lacks sufficient oversight mechanisms for the armed forces, overlooks the urgent need to strengthen civilian policing institutions; and instead proposes that the Federal Police be subsumed into the “National Guard”, comprising military forces. In a separate document, the Executive Branch has outlined plans to ensure that the “National Guard” would be under the control of the Secretary of Defence and receive military training. Finally, the current constitutional reform would widen the powers of the “National Guard” to carry out policing functions and allow for the possibility that they execute judicial warrants and other tasks that until now were expressly reserved for civilian policing institutions.
Please write immediately in Spanish, English or your own language to Mexican legislators:
•	Urging them to reject the Constitutional Reform that would amend thirteen articles of the Constitution to create the “National Guard”.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 30 JANUARY 2019 TO:

President of the Board of Directors - Chamber of Deputies 
Dip. Porfirio Muñoz Ledo 
Av. Congreso de la Unión 66Col El Parque, Del. VenustianoCarranza C.P. 15969, Ciudad de México, México	
porfirio.munozledo@diputados.gob.mx 
Salutation: Dear Deputy/Estimado Diputado
President of the Political Coordination Board - Chamber of Deputies 
Dip. Mario Delgado Carrillo 
Av. Congreso de la Unión 66Col El Parque, Del. Venustiano Carranza C.P. 15969, Ciudad de México, México 
mario.delgado@diputados.gob.mx  
Salutation: Dear Deputy/Estimado Diputado
Y copias a:
President of the Constitutional Points Commission - Chamber of Deputies 
Dip. Miroslava Carrillo Martínez 
Av. Congreso de la Unión 66Col El Parque, Del. Venustano Carranza C.P. 15969, Ciudad de México, México	
miroslava.carrillo@diputados.gob.mx  Salutation: Dear Deputy/Estimada

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. HIS EXCELLENCY MR JULIÁN VENTURA, Head of Mission Embassy of Mexico, 16 St. George Street, London, W1S 1FD Phone: 020 7499 8586 E-Mail: mexuk@sre.gob.mx Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Embamex-Reino-Unido/197866996938638 twitter: @Embamexru Salutation: Your Excellency
Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date. 

URGENT ACTION
bill to give armed forces control of security
ADditional Information
Since 2006, different Mexican administrations have employed a public security strategy relying on a military model as the main response to the threat posed by organized crime and drug cartels. This is despite clear evidence that this strategy has failed to ensure public security during a decade since the army was deployed on the streets of Mexico. The number of soldiers deployed for public security tasks has increased considerably, but this has not contributed to reducing violence and crime in the country. The long list of grave human rights violations continues to increase, including extrajudicial executions, torture and enforced disappearances.

The year 2018 will end as the most violent year on record in recent decades, alongside an increased presence of the military in public security tasks.

Armed forces are not suitable for policing functions, given that their training is focused on eliminating an enemy rather than ensuring the protection of the population and the use of force as a last resort, as is the case of civilian policing institutions.

Amnesty International recently launched a new explainer entitled "Five things you need to know about the National Guard" (https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/amr41/9578/2018/en/).

UA: 212/18 Index: AMR 41/9618/2018 Issue Date: 19 December 2018