Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps his Department is taking to help support at-risk human rights defenders in (a) Mexico and (b) the El Bajío community in Sonora.

The UK recognises the essential role that civil society and human rights defenders play in promoting and protecting human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. Our Embassy in Mexico monitors the human rights situation in Mexico closely and maintains close communication with human rights defenders and civil society organisations. We also continue to engage regularly on human rights and related issues with the Mexican authorities at ministerial and official level. Representatives from the UK Government and the Mexican Government held their second Multilateral and Human Rights Dialogue on 13-14 May 2025 where both Governments reaffirmed their commitment to human rights. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials met with representatives of the El Bajio community on 14 May in London to understand their concerns.