Ernestina Godoy Ramos, Digi Mart USA News (Oaxaca, Mexico): Mexico’s Attorney General, Ernestina Godoy Ramos, called for strengthening alternative dispute resolution mechanisms as a fundamental tool for guaranteeing access to justice, repairing harm to victims and rebuilding the social fabric. She said the country’s prosecutors must work to achieve peace and justice in Mexico.
Speaking at the Fifth Ordinary Session of the National Group of Specialized Bodies on Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms, held in Oaxaca, Godoy said these tools should not be understood solely as a way to reduce the burden on the criminal justice system. She described them as an alternative for restoring rights expeditiously, resolving conflicts and fostering a culture of peace.
“Alternative dispute resolution mechanisms are now and the future of the administration of justice,” she said. Addressing prosecutors and attorneys general from across the country, Godoy noted that Oaxaca has particular conditions that allow it to contribute to the national discussion on alternative justice, given the presence of Indigenous peoples and their own normative systems.
In that context, she said experiences developed in the state can contribute to the full recognition of the rights of Indigenous and Afro-Mexican communities, particularly in the context of the consultation on the regulatory legislation of Article 2 of the Constitution and the debate over Indigenous jurisdiction.
The head of the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) stressed that the administration of justice must respond to the needs of the population with responsibility, effectiveness and sensitivity, and must place victims at the center of institutional actions. She explained that citizen trust in institutions is built through concrete actions, such as properly receiving complaints, informing victims about their cases, conducting timely investigations, respecting their rights and guaranteeing reparation of harm where appropriate.
Godoy warned that violence not only leads to the commission of crimes but also breaks community bonds. She said recovering security therefore also means creating conditions for people to coexist again, use public spaces and rebuild their social relationships.
She called on public prosecutors, defenders, lawyers and litigators to promote the use of alternative mechanisms, and to strengthen training for public servants and coordination among justice institutions.
Oaxaca Governor Salomón Jara Cruz also took part in the meeting. He welcomed the Attorney General and highlighted the importance of collaboration between institutions to strengthen justice administration in the state.
He said Godoy’s presence in Oaxaca represents an opportunity to strengthen dialogue and coordination among the bodies responsible for guaranteeing access to justice.
Oaxaca State Attorney General Bernardo Rodríguez Alamilla, along with authorities from the judicial and legislative branches and representatives of federal and state security institutions, also attended the fifth ordinary session.
