This presentation examines the human cost of Mexico’s war on drugs, showing how militarized security policies have led to patterns of arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, torture, and extrajudicial killings. These practices are not isolated incidents but part of a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population, which amounts to crimes against humanity.
The analysis explores whether the level of intensity of the armed clashes and the level of organisation of groups can be understood as an armed conflict under International Criminal Law, with implications for how we interpret the human rights abuses and their legal consequences.
Finally, the talk highlights the persistent gap in accountability and justice. It outlines possible ways forward, including truth-seeking, stronger investigative strategies, and clear steps toward reducing the role of the military in public security.
José Antonio Guevara is an Associate Professor at the Autonomous University of Tlaxcala, with over 25 years of experience in academia, government, and NGOs. He served as Chair of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and holds a PhD in Fundamental Rights from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. He has published widely on international human rights, criminal, and humanitarian law.
For questions about this event or if you require accommodations, please contact the Center for Latin American Studies at clas@uchicago.edu.
- Center for Latin American Studies
