IACHR publishes friendly settlement agreement on case concerning the extrajudicial killing of Zenón Alberto Medina in Mexico

December 11, 2024

Washington, DC – The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has decided to approve the friendly settlement agreement concerning Case 14,073—Zenón Alberto Medina López and Family, Mexico—and to publish approval report 162/24.

This case concerns the international responsibility of the Mexican State for the extrajudicial killing of Zenón Alberto Medina by military officers, as well as the failure to do justice for this extrajudicial killing, which caused financial and moral harm to his family.

On July 18, 2024, the parties signed a friendly settlement agreement where the State acknowledged its international responsibility for violations of the rights held in Articles 4 (right to life), 5 (right to humane treatment), 8 (right to a fair trial), and 25 (right to judicial protection) of the American Convention on Human Rights, in accordance with Articles 1.1 (obligation to respect rights) and 2 (duty to adopt domestic legal action) of that instrument.

The State committed to implementing various redress measures, including the following: holding an event to acknowledge its responsibility, publishing the IACHR’s approval report concerning this friendly settlement, taking healthcare measures, providing financial compensation for the material and immaterial harm that was caused, providing educational support to relatives of the victim, and ensuring access to justice and guarantees of non-recurrence.

In compliance with this agreement, the IACHR verified that the State had already paid financial compensation to the beneficiaries, provided educational support, appointed victim legal counsel to assist them, and provided them with a full copy of the criminal case file in this investigation.

The IACHR approved the provisos held in this agreement and acknowledged full compliance with commitments linked to financial compensation and access to justice. The IACHR also acknowledged substantial partial compliance with commitments linked to educational support and partial compliance with health-related commitments. The IACHR decided to continue to monitor this friendly settlement agreement until full compliance has been verified.

The IACHR commends both parties on their efforts while negotiating this friendly settlement agreement, which turned out to be compatible with the Convention’s aims and purposes. The IACHR further commends the State on its efforts to develop a public policy concerning friendly settlements and alternative conflict-resolution and notes the efforts made by the petitioning party to take part in negotiations and to seek implementation of this agreement.

The IACHR is an autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS) whose mandate is based on the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. Its mission is to promote and defend human rights throughout the Americas and to serve as an advisory body to the OAS in this area. The IACHR consists of seven independent members elected by the OAS General Assembly who serve in a personal capacity and do not represent their countries of origin or residence.

No. 314/24

12:24 PM