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levels. This is so because in other variables Austria’s indicators are within the average values. The information reported by the Russian Federation is above the international average, leading to its placement in a better position than in previous reports. This represents a very significant change to be analyzed with special caution.
Impunity in Mexico • • •
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Mexico ranks 60 out of the 69 countries analyzed in the 2020 Global Impunity Index. In the 2017 edition, it ranked 66 out of 69 countries and in the GII-2015, it ranked 58 out of 59 cases under study. Mexico has high scores in the structural dimension (in both, the justice and security systems) so these issues should be a priority for the country. Mexico’s high score in the structural dimension of the justice system shows the need to increase the number of judges. This would improve the capacities of the justice administration, leading to a better assessment in the number of incarcerated individuals waiting for a judgment and overcrowding in prisons. The GII-2020 reports an average of 17.83 judges for every 100,000 inhabitants. Mexico has 2.17 judges for every 100,000 inhabitants. The country with the lowest impunity levels, Slovenia, has 42.77 judges for every 100,000 inhabitants. Regarding the security system, the index shows that there are 347.76 police officers for every 100,000 inhabitants. This figure is higher than the average for the 69 countries. However, this does not translate into an effective capacity of policing. When compared with the information from the Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security System, the status of the basic policing capacity in Mexico is almost one police officer below the international minimum standard (1.05 compared to 1.8 police officers per thousand inhabitants). Even when the issue of impunity is far from politicizing, there is an increase in crime statistics. This could affect future impunity measurements The precarious human rights situation is fundamental to understand Mexico’s high impunity levels. Urgent action is needed to reduce the high impunity rates. The security and justice systems require more resources. Such resources must lead to an increase in capacities, infrastructure and professionalization. The country needs more effective and independent evaluation systems within institutions to guarantee truthful and quality information on the operation of the justice and security systems. The entry into force of the new criminal justice system may lead to misconception of increased impunity. Although this system has improved judicial processes (especially in terms of transparency), this has not led to an overall improvement in the country due to the outcome of the trials.
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