Washington, DC - The United States and Mexico held the 9th annual Bilateral High Level Dialogue on Human Rights today at the State Department in Washington, D.C.

As strong bilateral partners and close neighbors, authorities from Mexico and the United States participated in a frank and constructive dialogue on human rights, both at the bilateral and multilateral level. Both countries stressed their commitment to strengthen cooperation, reaffirm joint values, and continue to work together in the effective promotion and protection of human rights.

The dialogue covered a wide range of issues, including actions to prevent and eradicate torture and disappearances, and to protect human rights defenders and journalists, noting the important work of civil society in these efforts. Both countries discussed the death penalty and consular notification; the rights of migrants and the use of force at the border; and the criminal justice system. Both sides agreed on the importance of prosecuting individuals engaged in human rights violations and reaffirmed their commitment to comply with their international obligations. They recognized the important recent passage of General Laws on Torture and Disappearances in Mexico.

Mexico and the United States also discussed cooperation on the work of the United Nations Human Rights Council and the General Assembly, as well as the Organization of American States, to strengthen their relevance for addressing global and regional challenges to human rights, gender equality, and the promotion of democracy around the world and in our Hemisphere.

The Mexican delegation was led by Ambassador Miguel Ruiz-Cabañas Izquierdo, Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mexico’s Ambassador to the U.S. Geronimo Gutierrez as well as officials from the ministries of Interior, Attorney General’s Office, and the Ministries of National Defense and Navy.

The United States’ delegation was headed by John Creamer, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs, and Michael G. Kozak, Senior Bureau Official of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor at the State Department. Officials from the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, and Defense and the United States Agency for International Development also participated in the dialogue.