The Mexico Declaration elaborates on the topic of SAI independence as laid out in the Lima Declaration. It presents eight core principles, or pillars, of SAI independence:
- Principle 1: The existence of an appropriate and effective constitutional/statutory/legal framework and of de facto application provisions of this framework
- Principle 2: The independence of SAI heads and members (of collegial institutions), including security of tenure and legal immunity in the normal discharge of their duties
- Principle 3: A sufficiently broad mandate and full discretion, in the discharge of SAI functions
- Principle 4: Unrestricted access to information
- Principle 5: The right and obligation to report on their work
- Principle 6: The freedom to decide the content and timing of audit reports and to publish and disseminate them
- Principle 7: The existence of effective follow-up mechanisms on SAI recommendations
- Principle 8: Financial and managerial/administrative autonomy and the availability of appropriate human, material, and monetary resources