News

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights and Global Women’s Issues, today issued the following statement on the anniversary of the mass kidnapping of 43 students in Guerrero, Mexico:
 
“On the anniversary of the disappearance of the 43 students in Guerrero, I continue to call on the Mexican government to carry out a full and impartial investigation and to hold those responsible to account. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has raised serious questions about the official account and underscored endemic problems of impunity and corruption at all levels of government and highlighted how these contribute to a weak rule of law and continued human rights violations.
 
“The horrific attacks against innocent civilians in Mexico continue to tear apart the social fabric of the country. I am encouraged by President Peña Nieto’s announcement on Thursday appointing new prosecutors to the case, and I encourage the Mexican government to continue taking steps to strengthen the rule of law. I urge the Obama Administration to implement policies that will enhance these efforts and support the rights of the Mexican people to thrive and live free from fear and persecution.”
 
Last November, Rubio joined with Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and twelve other senators in urging Secretary of State John Kerry and the U.S. to play an active role in “strengthening the investigative and forensic capacity of Mexican law enforcement and its ability to serve victims of crime, violence, and human rights abuses.”