Mexico: COFECE scolded by Human Rights Commission over “contest”

Mexico’s National Commission of Human Rights (CNDH) has spoken out in criticism of members of the Federal Commission of Economic Competition (COFECE) for having affected, through pronouncements by two of its commissioners, the image and welfare of people in the public notaries sector.

The CNDH received complaints from representatives of the Notary Public Schools of Mexico City, claiming that those who dedicate themselves to this field of work have had their public image affected after the profession was associated to a prize to identify the most absurd obstacle to competition in the country, carried out by COFECE in 2016 and 2017.

Opinions, says the CNDH, were issued without following the procedures established by the Federal Law of Economic Competition, thus violating the rights to due process and adequate defense of notaries. They added that the COFECE does not have the powers to issue such recommendations, since notaries public are not considered as economic agents.

Consequently, the CNDH has requested the COFECE to issue a letter to its personnel so that the procedures established by law can be observed whenever third parties may be affected, in terms of their freedom of speech. They must also design and impart a comprehensive course on human rights.