Munoz, Alejandro. “Transnational and Domestic Processes in the Definition of Human Rights Policies in Mexico.” Human Rights Quarterly 31:1 (2009): 35-58.

The author delves into the recent implementation of human rights policies in Mexico. Following years of egregious human rights abuses plaguing the country throughout the 20th century, starting in the 1990 Mexico began a gradual process of human rights reform. After the Mexican government intervened with heavy militarization against a rebellion in Chiapas resulting in severe human rights abuses and garnering international attention. Through a combination of international pressure and domestic initiative, Mexico from the mid 90’s through the 2000’s underwent drastic change in its previously near non-existent human rights policies.
Alejandro Munoz is a teaches at various Mexican universities and has a background studying international relations, government, and human rights. The article does a good job providing a comprehensive view of the vast international pressure Mexico received to develop an effective avenue for the implementation of human right, as well as what was occuring internally within the state, and how these two were able to converge together and affect positive change.

This image depicts one the people slain in the Chiapas rebellion. It is relevant insofar as it was largely this event that sparked the scorn of numerous Non-Governmental Organizations and other international institutions. Such international bodies were able to exert pressure on Mexico to initiate human rights policy, and condemn their policies that fail to  meet international human rights standards. 

Within the broader context of the class, and looking at human rights in Latin America as a whole this article provides a template for the evolution of human rights. Prior to the 1990’s Mexico was notorious for its blatant human rights abuses, and they have been improved dramatically since. Thus the article is important not only in demonstrating the possibility for reform in certain countries, but also in showing how such change comes about. It provides the framework Mexico underwent for its changes and therefore lends a successful model for the posterity of subsequent nations.