Congress at odds with president over Victims’ Law
- Details
- Published on Friday, 20 July 2012 11:46
- Written by Duncan Tucker
Having effectively vetoed a bill to support victims of organized crime earlier this month, President Felipe Calderon is under renewed pressure from Congress to pass the act.
The proposed Victims’ Law would require the federal government to provide legal, medical and financial aid to victims of organized crime or human rights abuses committed by security forces.
A national registry would be created to record crimes such as kidnappings, while victims or their relatives would be entitled to claim up to 70,000 dollars to compensate injuries sustained, forced disappearances or murder.
Following approval in the Senate, Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies passed the bill unanimously in April. Calderon received the bill in May, but he waited until 8.30 p.m. on July 1 (election day) to reject the legislation, returning it to Congress with a list of objections well after the June 9 deadline.
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