Mexico City, October 8 (teleSUR-RHC)-- More than 151,230 have been murdered in Mexico since December 2006, including thousands of Central American migrants making the dangerous trek through the country toward the United States, denounced the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein.

The UN official met Wednesday with President Enrique Peña Nieto after which he held a news conference noting that in Mexico there is a 98 percent rate of impunity, and that most cases remain unresolved and many more aren't even investigated.
 
“Impunity in Mexico is a generalized practice,” he reiterated, while saying there is an urgent need in Mexico to protect women, who have been killed by the thousands and who have been sexually abused.

He also highlighted the grim fact that in Mexico it is very dangerous to be a journalist or a human rights defender. “I urgently call on authorities in Mexico to offer more and improved protection to human rights defenders, to those who are journalists, and to those who have suffered a terrible series of murders, threats, beatings and other forms of intimidation,” he said.

Al Hussein also asked the Mexican government to strengthen prosecutors' offices at all levels and the functions of all security forces to make sure that all human rights violations are investigated.
    
The human rights defender particularly asked Mexican authorities to adopt chronological measures for the removal of armed forces from all public safety functions and operations.

There is a “strong convergence of eyes” on Mexico due to the seriously poor situation of human rights, he said, referring to the strong criticism that has surfaced against the Latin American country.
    
Regarding Ayotzinapa, Al Hussein said Mexican authorities should allow international investigators to interview soldiers who may have witnessed the abduction and apparent massacre of 43 trainee teachers last year. The Mexican Ministry of Defense has strongly rejected the idea.
 
Al Hussein suggested that Mexico's top military brass should allow a panel of experts from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to interview soldiers.