E/CN.4/2003/85/Add.2 page 2 Executive summary At the invitation of the Government of Mexico, the Special Rapporteur undertook an official mission to that country from 25 February to 6 March 2002. She subsequently visited the frontier between Mexico and the United States following a joint invitation by the two countries (see E/CN.4/2003/85/Add.3). It is suggested that the two reports be read jointly. The Special Rapporteur noted the obvious concern of the Mexican authorities and organizations to end the dichotomy which exists between what Mexico asks for its migrants abroad in terms of protection and the type of treatment it offers to foreign migrants in Mexico. In order to overcome this dichotomy, it is necessary to strengthen the National Institute for Migration (INM) as the principal federal body with competence for migration matters, so as to enable it to deal with migration questions on its own, without being dependent on a variety of police forces with no specialized training in this area. In her report, the Special Rapporteur describes the situation of vulnerability confronting migrants, the situations in which abuses are committed against migrants and the risks to which they are exposed. These abuses include extortion, ill-treatment and sexual abuse by criminal gangs and smugglers. The Special Rapporteur also received complaints about the alleged involvement of a number of migration officials and/or police officers in abuses of this kind. She noted that, given the extent of the problems encountered by migrants in transit through Mexico, there is inadequate consular representation of their countries of origin. One of the most serious problems the Special Rapporteur noted during her visit to Mexico was that of corruption closely linked to transnational organized crime, and in particular gangs engaged in the trafficking and smuggling of persons. The Special Rapporteur noted with concern the complaints about the involvement of certain public officials in these practices, which are encouraged by impunity. She noted with gratitude the undertaking made by the Mexican authorities to resolve these problems. She recommends the prompt investigation and punishment of reported violations of migrants’ human rights as a step forward in efforts to combat impunity. The Special Rapporteur would like to congratulate Mexican society on the attention it is giving to the study and investigation of migration in the country. Mexico is one of the countries which has done most work in this field, thereby acquiring an important resource for the design and execution of policies and measures for migrants. She considers it crucial, at the present time, to proceed from this diagnostic phase to the execution of a national policy for the benefit and protection of migrants. This policy must be implemented jointly with civil society and must be reflected in concrete programmes. The Special Rapporteur invites the Mexican Government to initiate a process of harmonization of national legislation and public policies with the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, and to consider acceding to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the protocols thereto. The concrete measures recommended by the Special Rapporteur include: strengthening, in terms of human and financial resources, the INM and the Beta Groups set up to protect