Espacio_OSC for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Journalists (Espacio_OSC): Espacio_OSC is a coordination platform of 18 civil society organisations from throughout Mexico. These organisations advocated jointly for the creation of the Federal Mechanism for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Journalists and they now monitor its implementation. PBI provides accompaniment and technical support to the platform. For further information see the Espacio_OSC’s third report on the implementation of the Protection Mechanism and the report by PBI Mexico and WOLA on the mechanism’s advances and challenges. More information on the members and work of the Espacio_OSC is available here (in Spanish).
In Chihuahua, PBI has followed up on the early alert issued by the mechanism after requests by 26 organisations in the state. PBI has observed the process of creation and implementation of the contingency plan, which must follow the issue of the alert according to the Law on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Journalists.
Focal Group on Business and Human Rights (Focal Group): The Focal group was created in 2014 to ensure respect, promotion and protection of human rights by the Mexican State and national and transnational corporations through the adoption of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Current members of the Focal Group include: The Mexican Centre for Environmental Law (CEMDA), Business and Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC), Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Project (ProDESC), and The Project on Organizing, Development, Education, and Research (PODER). The group is accompanied by the Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense (AIDA) and Peace Brigades International Mexico (PBI). PBI has accompanied the Focal Group since 2015 to provide political support, advocacy and visibility to the need to implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the importance of including human rights defenders, especially those belonging to indigenous and rural communities, in the process. More information on the members and work of the Focal Group is available here (in Spanish).