Oaxaca/Chiapas: Among States with Highest Number of Forced Displacement Victims

@ Educa 

“Forced displacement is a violation of human rights as it violates the right to move freely and freely choose a place of residence. It also implies the violation of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.” (Educa)

According to the latest report by the Mexican Commission for the Defense and Promotion of Human Rights on Forced Displacement, indigenous populations have been the most affected, representing 41 percent of all displaced people, although they represent 10.1 percent of the national population. In addition, the report highlights that in 2020 approximately 356,792 people in Mexico have been expelled from their territories, with Chiapas, Chihuahua and Oaxaca being the states that have experienced the greatest displacement.

With the increase and intensification of organized crime, paramilitary violence, and state intervention in the last five years, the forced displacement of indigenous peoples in several states, including Oaxaca, also increased. From 2019 to 2021, at least 3,194 people have been victims of internal forced displacement in the state. Guerrero and Chiapas are the states that register the most episodes of forced displacement from 2016 to 2020, with a total of 36,758 victims. In that period, 21,805 people were forced to leave their communities in Guerrero. Another 14,953 had to leave Chiapas.

It is essential to remember that the figures for displaced persons must be interpreted with prudence because “there are no official records (…)” as deputy Tania Caballero explained, just as she presented the Law for the Prevention and Attention of Internal Forced Displacement of the State of Oaxaca at the beginning December 2021 and with the aim of protecting people who live and suffer forced displacement.

For more information in Spanish:

Indígenas desplazados en México, violación a sus derechos humanos (Educa Oaxaca, 14 de diciembre de 2021)

Buscan proteger a víctimas de desplazamiento forzado en Oaxaca (NVI Noticias, 18 de diciembre de 2021)

En 3 años, conflictos y violencia causan desplazamiento forzado de más de 3 mil personas en Oaxaca (El Universal Oaxaca, 3 de noviembre de 2021)

Guerrero y Chiapas, los estados con más desplazamientos forzados en 4 años(Expansión Política, 9 de diciembre de 2021)

For more information from SIPAZ:

Oaxaca/Chiapas/National: Forced Internal Displacement – An Alarming and Ignored Reality (December 9, 2021)

National: “Forced Displacement in Mexico; Result of Impunity and Unsolved Problem” – Centro Prodh Press Conference (November 17, 2021)

Chiapas: Displaced Members of Las Abejas Return to Pantelho (August 31, 2021)

Chiapas/National: HR Observation Mission for Forced Displacement of 3,205 People from Pantelho y Chenalho (July 16, 2021)