Topic: Universal Jurisdiction in Crimes against Humanity
Country: Mexico
Delegate Name: Sarah Hinkel
School: Mattawan High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Mexico position papers GLIMUN 2011 committees
The United Mexican States believe in international intervention when crimes against humanity are involved. Countries, developing or developed, take part in crimes against humanity. The international community needs to do its best to prevent and stop these heinous crimes.
Mexico signed the annexed Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in December 1948. Since then Mexico has made strides for protecting Human rights encouraging international cooperation. Mexico has established thirty two autonomous bodies for the promotion and protection of human rights. The Permanent Representation of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights was established in Mexico at Mexico’s request. On the national scene, Mexico drafted a National Human Rights Program, introduced Constitutional amendments in favor of human rights, and abolished the death penalty. Mexico agrees with the decisions made by the Human Rights Council.
Crimes against humanity include violating basic human rights for example the right to life, liberty, equal treatment before the law among others. It is the state’s responsibility to protect these rights. However, if a state implement laws that violate human rights, international intervention should be determined by the severity of the crisis. The prevention and punishment of the crime of genocide states that genocide is trying to eliminate a national, ethnical, racial or religious group. There is a fine line between a war and genocide. Genocide is a type of war with a purpose of eliminating a specific group of people. A war, not including genocide, is fought for a cause or ideology that cannot be resolved diplomatically. A specific group of people is not targeted directly unless involved in the conflict.
The country that was victim should have the choice of trying the criminal. The International Criminal Court should try the criminals if they violated human rights in multiple countries or if the country gives jurisdiction to the ICC.
