Brussels, 29 April 2008: ITUC has strongly condemned police impunity in Mexico. Two years after the police attacked workers – the majority of whom were women working in the informal economy – not a single police officer has been punished for the serious incidents that took place in San Salvadar Atenco. Impunity reigns, and the sharp criticism levelled by the UN’s Committee against Torture (CAT) and Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) has gone unheeded.

The attack took place on 3 and 4 May 2006. The workers – informal flower-sellers – were the target of brutal violence perpetrated by more than 2,500 national police officers, resulting in 200 arbitrary detentions, the deaths of two young people and the torture of dozens of people, including sexual violence.

“These events are an unacceptable violation of the fundamental rights of Mexican workers as enshrined in ILO Conventions,” said Guy Ryder, ITUC general secretary. “Workers victimised by police brutality have a right to full and immediate justice.” ITUC is showing solidarity with the demonstrations being organized in front of Mexican embassies around the world on 30 April 2008.

In a letter to the Mexican authorities, ITUC urges President Calderón to take every possible step to shed light on these events, carry out an exhaustive investigation in order to ascertain and establish those responsible for the crimes, punish with the full force of the law those who are guilty, and ensure that the ILO’s fundamental Conventions – as ratified by Mexico – are enforced.

ITUC represents 168 million workers in 155 countries and territories, and has 311 national affiliates

For more information, please contact the ITUC Press Office on +32 2 224 0204 or +32 476 621 018.