E/CN.4/2003/85/Add.2 page 5 Introduction 1. At the invitation of the Government of Mexico, the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants undertook an official mission to that country from 25 February to 6 March 2002. Subsequently, following the joint invitation by both countries, she visited the frontier between Mexico and the United States. The results of her second visit are described in document E/CN.4/2003/85/Add.3. It is suggested that the two reports be read jointly. 2. In this report the Special Rapporteur describes what she saw in Mexico from a constructive standpoint which seeks to identify good practices, and also areas where migrants are confronted with situations of vulnerability and where State action would appear to be of crucial importance. She also examines the role of other protagonists in the migration process, including non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the private sector. Throughout the report, account is taken of gender equity and the particular situation of migrant boys and girls. Since Mexico is simultaneously a country of origin, a receiving country and a transit country, the migration process in Mexico is somewhat complex; this report attempts to reflect this fact without claiming in any way to be exhaustive. Its scope is limited to the facts which the Special Rapporteur was able to observe and the information she was given during her visit. She hopes that the content of this report will be interpreted as a further item in the necessary dialogue between the State, civil society and migrants with the aim of ensuring the full realization of the human rights of migrants. 3. The Special Rapporteur’s visit comprised meetings in Mexico City, Tapachula, Veracruz and Michoacán. She had interviews with the Minister of the Interior (Secretario de Gobernación), the Under-Secretary for Population, Migration and Religious Affairs within the Ministry of the Interior, the Commissioner of the National Institute for Migration (INM) and Ministry officials. In addition, she met the Under-Secretary for Human Rights and numerous officials of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. She also talked to the President of the National Human Rights Commission, deputies who are members of the commissions on foreign affairs, frontier affairs and human rights, and senators and/or their representatives in the commission on foreign affairs and in the subcommissions on frontier affairs and human rights. In the Procurator-General’s Office, the Special Rapporteur interviewed the Deputy-Procurator for International Affairs and the Director-General for Human Rights. She met representatives of various United Nations agencies present in Mexico and the United States Ambassador to Mexico. She participated in two important meetings with NGOs in Mexico City. She also visited the migrant holding centre in the Federal District, various INM migration facilities and the Social Rehabilitation Centre in Tapachula, where she interviewed officials and migrants. She was invited to the Homes for Migrants Network, refuges and NGOs. Other persons interviewed included the consuls of central American countries, the Ecuadorian consul, migrants and members of their families, local and State officials in the places she visited, members of academia, members of the Beta Groups (see para. 7) and members of the press. 4. The Special Rapporteur would like to take the opportunity to thank the Government of Mexico for the valuable assistance and cooperation it extended to her during her visit to the country. The Government provided the Special Rapporteur with all the necessary facilities to