Human rights defenders in México are subject to acts of intimidation including continuous surveillance, judicial harassment, arbitrary arrests, death threats, forced disappearances and killings as a result of their activities in defence of human rights.

Journalists, environmentalists, women activists and defenders who work with local communities are particularly at risk. According to the Mexican government there are between 600 and 650 human rights organisations working in Mexico. The National Network of Human Rights Civil Organs Red Nacional de Organismos Civiles de Derechos Humanos “Todos los derechos humanos”(Red TDT) was established more than 15 years ago. The Network consists of 54 human rights orgnaisations in 19 states and Federal district. Specific rights which are of particular concern to human rights defenders in Mexico include rights related to health, housing, food, labour, environment, peace or the rights of specific groups in society including women, children, indigenous peoples and other vulnerable groups. Human rights organisations and defenders in Mexico are becoming more familiar with the international mechanisms established for the protection of human rights and are making more frequent use of these mechanisms. The Mexican government in recognition of the importance of human rights established the Commission for Governmental Policy in Respect of Human Rights and has enacted in February 2004 the Federal Law to Strengthen the Activities Carried out by Civil Society Organisations (la Ley Federal de Fomento a las Actividades Realizadas por las Organizaciones de la Sociedad Civil) which establishes both the rights and obligations of these organisations.