The new director of Amnesty International in the Americas has criticized the use of the military and heavy-handed measures to combat crime in the region: ‘The Armed Forces are not trained to ensure public safety’

Ana Piquer, a Chilean human rights activist, is the new regional director for Amnesty International in the Americas. She takes over during a turbulent time. Her organization is facing difficult challenges when it comes to defending human rights, as governments are increasingly using militaries and heavy-handed policies to guarantee public safety. Dissident voices are persecuted and violence is hitting activists, journalists, women and political candidates especially hard, particularly in Mexico as the bloody 2024 election cycle unfolds.

Piquer, 49, criticizes the use of the Armed Forces in ensuring public safety, along with the measures implemented by the president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele. However, this direction has aroused much enthusiasm among many Latin American politicians. “If Bukele’s is the model to follow, we’re all in serious trouble,” she warns.

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Q. Has the Mexican state failed to guarantee the security of those who aspire to seek elected office?

A. Given the insecurity of this process, it’s clear that there haven’t been sufficient measures taken, especially at the local level. The government has heavily pushed militarization as a solution to security problems… but events prove that these militarization processes aren’t offering the response that was expected. This concurs with many Mexican civil society organizations that have questioned militarization as a solution. These groups have warned that [this policy] can lead to more human rights violations, instead of solving the problem of violence. There’s still a very large gap in terms of impunity, protective measures, crime prevention and addressing the root of violence.