About IWGIAStavenhagen's visit to Mexico
The Special Rapporteur visited Mexico from 1-18 June 2003
The indigenous population of Mexico, which currently accounts for approximately 12 per cent of the total population, predominates in many rural municipalities, particularly in the south-east, and can also be found in urban areas. The vulnerability of the human rights of the indigenous peoples has a number of aspects. Human rights violations are found in many agrarian and political conflicts in the indigenous regions, mainly in the context of the system for pursuing and administering justice.
Discrimination against the indigenous people can be seen in low human and social development indices, extreme poverty, inadequate social services, how investments and production projects are implemented and the huge inequality between indigenous and non-indigenous people in the distribution of wealth and income. Where indigenous matters are concerned the constitutional reform of 2001 does not meet the aspirations and demands of the organized indigenous movement; this means that it provides less coverage as regards the protection of the human rights of the indigenous peoples and makes the renewal of the dialogue for peace in the State of Chiapas more difficult.
The Special Rapporteur recommends in his report, among others, that the Government of Mexico should pay urgent attention to preventing and resolving social conflicts in indigenous regions, to revising the indigenous justice system in depth, to developing a consolidated economic and social policy for the indigenous regions with the active participation of the indigenous peoples, with special attention to migrants, displaced persons, women and children, and to reviewing the constitutional reform of 2001 so that peace can be achieved in Chiapas and the demands of the indigenous peoples for recognition and respect for their human rights met.
Use the link below to read Stavenhagen's official report on the mission to Mexico: