Torture, a common technique in Mexico for confessions

The 2025 Global Torture Index, published by the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT), classifies Mexico as having a high risk of torture and ill-treatment, revealing a widespread practice that persists amid impunity and institutional weaknesses. The report, based on data from 2023 and 2024, highlights that torture is frequently used as a method of investigation, extracting confessions, and fabricating perpetrators, seriously affecting human rights in the country.

According to data presented by the Technical Secretariat for Combating Torture of the Federal Public Defender's Office, 2,881 cases of torture were reported between 2019 and 2024, with 3,506 victims. Meanwhile, the National Survey of the Deprived of Liberty Population (ENPOL 2021) of the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) indicates that 42% of incarcerated people reported being beaten or mistreated in the Public Ministry for incriminating themselves or accepting false information, and 20% pleaded guilty after physical assault.

The Index's fact sheet stated that these types of practices demonstrate a "selective rule of law" that encourages arbitrary detentions and the fabrication of illicit evidence.

Police brutality

Other findings included a high level of police brutality and institutional violence, as the use of military forces in public security tasks since the "War on Drugs" began in 2006 has increased arbitrary arrests, torture, and extrajudicial killings. Furthermore, the creation of the National Guard in 2019 has exacerbated these violations.

"(The agency) used force in 421 incidents, specifying that firearms were used in 411 of these. According to data obtained by the Prodh Center, the National Guard had also killed 94 people as of 2021," it stated.

The Prevention of Deprivation of Liberty pillar appears to be at very high risk: 34.5% of inmates reported physical assault by guards. Cefereso 16 reported 21 deaths in custody since 2021, including 13 by suicide. The MNPT has filed 86 complaints, but its dependence on the CNDH limits its effectiveness.

Meanwhile, in the section on ending impunity, the country was rated as high risk, as it was explained that of 4,592 investigations for torture in 2023, only 0.1% (18 cases) reached a judge, and only 8 convictions were handed down.

Regarding protection for all groups, the risk is also high. 43.82% of incarcerated women reported sexual torture; children and adolescents suffer psychological (65.9%) and physical (45.9%) violence; and detained migrants face inhumane conditions, such as those documented in the 2023 Ciudad Juárez fire.