Mexico Lauded for New Law Protecting Refugees
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees lauded Mexico on Friday for its new law protecting refugees and asylum-seekers.
The representative for Mexico and Central America to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Fernando Protti Alvarado, described the legislation as one of the most advanced and best in Latin America.
Mexico President Felipe Calderon signed on Wednesday the Law on Refugees and Complementary Protection, which includes protection for those who cite a fear of being "persecuted for his or her religion."
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The law was drafted "taking into account the model legislation of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees," Calderon said during the signing ceremony in Mexico City. Previous laws dealing with refugees did not comply with international standards. The new law, which was approved by the Congress of Mexico last year, does.
Under the legislation, refugees are granted permission to work, access to health services and health insurance, access to education and recognition of educational qualifications. It also considers gender as grounds for persecution and grants complementary protection for people not considered as refugees, but whose life has been threatened or could be at risk of torture, ill treatment or other forms of cruel inhuman treatment.
These include those who cite a fear of being persecuted for his or her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinions.
The president remembered that in the world, there are 10 million refugees living under the protection of generous nations. He also pointed out that Mexico gave asylum to people fleeing the Spanish Civil War, World War II, Latin American military regimes, civil conflicts in Central America and, most recently, survivors of the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti.
Other countries, including Spain, are discussing initiatives on receiving refugees, especially with many Christians seeking refuge in the wake of increasing persecution.
France recently received refugees from Iraq after Christians were attacked in October by Islamic extremists. Dozens at Our Lady of Salvation Church in Baghdad died in what was considered the deadliest attack against the Christian minority since the U.S.-led invasion.
Mexico's new law includes principles such as no forced returns, non-discrimination, no penalty for irregular entry, family unity, best interests of the child, and confidentiality.
