National: Cuts for Indigenous Women in Violent Situations

There are 35 Houses of Indigenous and Afro-Mexican Women (CAMIs) in Mexico. These houses are refuges for women living in violent situations. Their service focuses on sexual and reproductive rights and the prevention of and care for gender violence. They receive their resources through the Indigenous Rights Program part of the National Institute of Indigenous Peoples (INPI).

Despite the fact that the services for violence against women were declared “essential” during the COVID-19 pandemic, those who care for indigenous women were left penniless by the government in full contingency, the media have denounced.

The importance of CAMIs is that they serve populations that many authorities do not reach. There, indigenous women and girls who experience gender violence can find support, guidance and advice in their language. They confirm that they have seen an increase in victims of violence during the confinement of the SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic.

Since April, the INPI reported the suspension of publication of results and, therefore, payment of money for all grants from the Indigenous Rights Program was suspended. The argument was that there are no conditions for the projects and to protect the beneficiaries, despite the fact that the CAMI are already underway and some have temporary houses that serve as a refuge for women who are victims of family violence.

In January of this year, a call for support was made and although it was promised that information would be given no later than April 30th, as yet no response has been received and it is feared that the resources with which indigenous women throughout the country are helped will be cancelled.

Animal Politico media asked the INPI about this situation, but were told that it is no longer in their hands: it was the Ministry of Finance that had decided to reserve the money that was destined to this program to use for the COVID-19 emergency.

For more information in Spanish:

Hacienda retiene los recursos para atención a violencia contra mujeres indígenas, Animal Politico, 4 de mayo de 2020

Mujeres indígenas víctimas de violencia en desamparo, Reporte Indigo, 4 de mayo de 2020

Casas de la Mujer Indígena: recortes a proyectos que salvan vidas, La Jorndada, 8 de mayo de 2020

For more information from SIPAZ:

Oaxaca: Exigen justicia y disculpa para mujeres víctimas de violencia cibernética del pueblo ayuuk, (March 25, 2020)

National Strike – A Day without Women (March 13, 2020)

National: Historic Women’s Day In Mexico (March 11, 2020)

 

Oaxaca: Organizations, Communities and Movements Demand Suspension of Trans-Isthmus Project

In a joint statement, more than 150 organizations, collectives and institutions demanded from President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) and the governments of the states of Oaxaca, Veracruz, Chiapas and Tabasco, the immediate cancellation of the so-called “Program of Integral Development of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec-Corridor and Interoceanic Train (PDIIT-TI) ”. Instead, they spoke in favor of building an alternative proposal – based on reflection and horizontal dialogue.

They denounced that the right to self-determination of indigenous and black peoples, peasant communities and the population in general that will be affected by said “Program” and has not been respected as they have not been able to express their approval or rejection through their assemblies.

In addition, they foresee strong environmental impacts “if the new imposition of this set of megaprojects is allowed in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (the area with the greatest biological diversity and the largest producer of ecosystem services in Mexico and Mesoamerica, and therefore also the owner of immense cultural diversity), pollution, health affectation and global warming would be exacerbated, and the basic needs of the inhabitants and towns of a large portion of the south-southeast of our country, as well as the life of future generations, would be compromised.”

On the other hand, they recalled that “development” projects previously implemented in the Isthmus region, “despite their promises of “modernity” and well-being, have not really benefited local populations; on the contrary, they have generated a severe deterioration in their ways of life, their cultures, the environment, the community social fabric, and have been affected by an increase in militarization.”

For more informaton in Spanish:

Exigen la cancelación del Programa Istmo de Tehuantepec-Corredor y Tren Interoceánico, Proceso 28 de abril 2020

PRONUNCIAMIENTO PÚBLICO: CORREDOR Y TREN TRANSÍSTMICO: AMBICIÓN TRASNACIONAL, DEPREDACIÓN Y SOBERANÍA EN RIESGO, EN TIEMPOS DE CRISIS, RECESIÓN, PÁNICO Y PANDEMIA

For more information from SIPAZ:

Oaxaca: Illegal Start on Trans-Isthmus Corridor without EIR Denounced (April 28, 2020)

Oaxaca: Assembly of Isthmus Peoples in Resistance to Megaprojects Formed (March 19, 2020)

https://www.sipaz.org/focus-the-trans-isthmus-corridor-a-not-so-new-project-of-the-new-government/?lang=en (March, 2020)

Guerrero: Supreme Court Invalidates Changes to Law 701 on Recognitions, Rights and Culture of Indigenous Peoples and Communities of the State Due to Lack of Consultation

On October 20th, via Internet, the Plenary of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) declared unconstitutional the controversial modifications of Law 701 of Recognitions, Rights and Culture of the Indigenous Peoples and Communities of the State of Guerrero carried out in 2018.

According to a statement published by the La Montaña Tlachinollan Human Rights Center, the SCJN “established that said legislative modifications directly affect the rights of the indigenous and Afro-Mexican peoples and communities of the state since there was no prior, free, informed consultation, in good faith and culturally appropriate, which in turn violates constitutional parameters and international treaties.”

The SCJN also established that this sentence will take effect once it is published in the Official Gazette of the Federation and that the legislature will have 12 months to make the necessary adjustments, “consulting at all times the indigenous and Afro-Mexican peoples and communities of the State of Guerrero.”

La Montaña Tlachinollan Human Rights Center welcomed “the sentence issued by the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation that recognized the right of indigenous and Afro-Mexican peoples to prior, free, informed and culturally appropriate consultation. The ruling recognizes indigenous peoples’ right to comment on the laws, programs or projects that may affect them. It clearly establishes that it is not the state authorities that can unilaterally decide the course of life for indigenous and Afro-Mexican peoples.”

For more information in Spanish:

La Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación declara la inconstitucionalidad de las reformas a la Ley 701 y la Ley 777 del Sistema de Seguridad Pública del Estado de Guerrero (Tlachinollan, 20 de abril de 2020)

SCJN invalida Ley de Pueblos y Comunidades Indígenas de Guerrero (El Economista, 20 de abril de 2021)

Corte anula decretos de SLP y de Guerrero por no consultar indígenas y descapacitados (Milenio, 21 de abril de 2020)

For more information from SIPAZ:

Guerrero: CRAC-PC Asks Local Deputies to Pass New Indigenous Law Immediately (February 18, 2020)

 

Guerrero: CRAC-PC marches in Chilpancingo demanding the reform of the Law 701 (November 11, 2019)

Guerrero: CRAC PC denuncia criminalización y persecución de sus integrantes por parte del poder judicial (6 de noviembre de 2019)

Guerrero: Libertad absolutoria de los 16 presos de la CRAC PC y el CECOP (8 de junio de 2019)

Guerrero: CRAC-PC Coordinator of San Luis Acatlan Murdered (May 9, 2019)

Guerrero/International: Difficult Situation for Migrants and farm Workers Who Are Stuck or Want to Return

Community checkpoint (@Tlachinollan)

In a letter dated April 19th and addressed to the President of the Republic and other federal officials, municipal and community authorities, both concerns and proposals were expressed to address the “tragedy” resulting from the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) nationally and internationally.

Although they recognized “the laudable effort that is made in all the municipalities of Guerrero” by the health sector, they called attention to the specific needs of the “indigenous and Afro brothers” not only in this situation of health crisis but for the economic and social consequences that this will have for this vulnerable and marginalized sector in itself.

They asked the federal, state and municipal government to “not only respect community decisions to establish control systems for the entry and exit of many indigenous communities in Guerrero” but also “to explore support mechanisms, because the effort of the peoples is to avoid the spread of the “Coronavirus.”” They stated that “they are drastic measures of protection, but necessary.”

They asked for particular attention for the agricultural day laborers who, “surrounded by hunger and to survive, year after year travel to the northern states of the Republic in search of work on agricultural plantations” but who, in this context, were forced to return without taking “health measures to prevent the spread of the virus that plagues our country.”

They also warned about the migrants who are in the United States, thousands of people from Guerrero who are in particular difficulty in Los Angeles, New York and Chicago, at a time when many “have lost their job or stopped working.” They urged that “the consulates and diplomatic missions of our country provide humanitarian aid to our compatriots.”

They proposed a series of measures to address the situation in both the US and Mexico.

In previous days, both the media and the Tlachinollan Human Rights Center reported on the situation of the numerous migrants from La Montaña Guerrero who are in the United States (at least 14 of them have died in New York in recent weeks) and those who tried to return to “face a new obstacle: their communities are closed, even to them, (…) which is why they have stayed in Tlapa, the largest city in La Montaña.”

For more information in Spanish:

Preocupados por los Pueblos Indígenas y Afros de Guerrero y México por el Covid-19 (autoridades y municipales y representantes indígenas y afros, 19 de abril de 2020)

En La Montaña de Guerrero, las comunidades se cierran incluso para recibir a los suyos (La Jornada, 17 de abril de 2020)

Mueren 14 indígenas migrantes en NY por Covid-19 (La Jornada, 17 de abril)

Indígenas en el corazón del Bronx (Tlachinollan, 17 de abril de 2020)

Morir de COVID – 19 en Nueva York (Tlachinollan, 13 de abril de 2020)

 

For more information from SIPAZ:

Guerrero: Danger of Food Shortage in La Montaña Due to Coronavirus (April 19, 2020)

National: Organiaztions Denounce Health Neglect in Open Letter to AMLO (April 16, 2020)

National: CNDH Calls for Protection of Indigenous and Afro-descendant Populations against COVID-19 (April 14, 2020)

National: CNDH Calls for Protection of Indigenous and Afro-descendant Populations against COVID-19

@Cuartoscuro

On April 10th, the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) called on the authorities of the three levels of government to take measures to protect the indigenous and Afro-descendant population that is at high risk due to the increasing spread of Coronavirus.

In the press release that was published, they emphasized the vulnerability of this group of people because the “majority are far from the country’s urban centers, with little or no coverage by medical infrastructure and marginalized from the information that makes them aware of their rights.”

For this reason, they highlighted the importance that preventive measures to combat this virus “be produced and disseminated in clear and timely messages in the mother tongue and indigenous languages” and that the message of “stay at home” be strengthened by “stay in your community.” In addition, they urged that at the same time it was necessary to review and guarantee the non-invasion of the territories since “a social policy of non-access to indigenous and Afro-descendant territories means believing in the collective ethical care of their own forms of control, exercising their autonomy and free self-determination.”

Taking into account the increased risk situation of women in isolation, they specifically called for guaranteeing access to justice for victims of family violence.

It is also worth mentioning that following the call of the CNDH, the organization Movement of Indigenous Peoples, Communities and Organizations, National Movement (MPCOI-MN) made a statement and demanded that an Emergent Food Support Program be implemented for the time the emergency lasts.

“The increase in recessions at the national level and the real possibility of a global depression will further aggravate the situation, causing fear that many indigenous people will die, not only from the virus itself, but also from conflicts and violence linked to the shortage of resources, and in particular drinking water and food,” they said in the statement.

For more information in Spanish:

Comunicado de la CNDH (el 10 de abril de 2020)

Pide CNDH proteger a población indígena por COVID-19 (La Razón el 10 de abril de 2020)

Organizaciones indígenas piden atención y protección ante coronavirus (El Popular el 12 de abril de 2020)

Exhorta CNDH a los gobiernos a proteger salud de los indígenas (El Diario de Chihuahua el 11 de abril de 2020)

For more information from SIPAZ:

Chiapas: Health Workers Denounce Shortages in Hospitals (April 10, 2020)

National: Migrant Dies in Protest at Migrant Center in Tabasco; INM Blamed (April 5, 2020)

Chiapas: National Guard and Police Oppression of Migrants Protesting over COVID-19 Fears (March 30, 2020)

Guerrero: Afro-descendant and Indigenous Inhabitants of Costa Chica Seek Real Recognition of their Rights and Creation of New Municipalities

Photo @ Sur de Acapulco

On March 14th, in the framework of the Dialogue with the Afro-Mexican People, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador held a public event in Cuajinicuilapa, Guerrero.

During the event, indigenous and Afro-Mexican residents of the Costa Chica region expressed, among other things, that they need “real recognition with specific rights according to our needs, as we have stated in the regional and national forums for consultation on the reform of Article 2 of the Constitution.”

It should be remembered that at national and state levels, a process is taking place where indigenous populations converge with the Afro population to promote a law of recognition of their rights where they are considered as political players capable of carrying out social transformations, holding public office and fully exercising their rights.

At the same time, in relation to a parallel process in which the state Congress is being asked to create new municipalities that include a perspective of indigenous and Afro people, participants requested “support for the recognition of San Nicolas Tolentino, Las Vigas, Temalacatzingo and Santa Cruz del Rincon as new autonomous municipalities.”

In this regard, the Montaña Tlachinollan Human Rights Center considers that “the peoples have understood that the fight for new municipalities is strategic to break with political isolation and institutionalized discrimination against peoples settled in rural areas. The dispute over public financing that is denied to indigenous communities only makes sense when a new political configuration is sought through the creation of new municipalities.”

For more information in Spanish:

OPINIÓN | La brisa rebelde de la Costa Chica (Tlachinollan, 16 de marzo de 2020)

Creación de Nuevos Municipios (Congreso del Estado de Guerrero)

Versión estenográfica | Diálogo con el Pueblo Afromexicano (Presidencia de la República, 14 de marzo de 2020)

For more information from SIPAZ:

Guerrero: CRAC-PC marches in Chilpancingo demanding the reform of the Law 701 (November 11, 2019)

National: Debate on Proposals for New Constitutional Reform on Rights Of Indigenous Peoples Continues (November 9, 2019)

National/Chiapas: Forums on Process of Free, Prior and Informed Consultation for Constitutional and Legal Reform of Rights of Indigenous and Afro-Mexican Peoples Go Ahead (July 29, 2019)

National: Process of “Free, Prior and Informed Consultation” on Constitutional and Legal Reform of Rights of Indigenous and Afro-Mexican Peoples Begins (June 27, 2019)

Oaxaca: Law on indigenous and Afromexican peoples “tied up” in the state congress (October 1, 2014)

Chiapas: First State Assembly in Support of AMLO’s National Project Held in San Cristobal de Las Casas

@Elio Enriquez

On February 22nd, more than 700 people gathered in what they called the First State Assembly in support of the nation and state project headed by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador at the Casa Mazariegos convention center in San Cristobal de Las Casas. As reported, the participants included “representatives of all indigenous ethnic groups (Tzeltal, Tzotzil, Tojolabal, Chol and Lacandon, among others) and Afro-Mexicans from Chiapas, religions, campesinos, social leaders of the different ideological currents of the state, entrepreneurs, free thinkers and citizens.”

The act began with an indigenous ceremony led by a speaker of the Mam language and then a statement signed by the group “Chiapanecos for Peace and Development” was read, first in Spanish and then in the indigenous languages ​​represented in the meeting.

They expressed their “total and unconditional support for all social programs and projects such as the Dos Bocas refinery, the Trans-Isthmus Corridor, the Maya Train and the long-awaited Pijijiapan-Palenque road section, which as a whole will, without a doubt, achieve the development that our state longs for and deserves so much, since, as it has always said, for the good of all, first for those who have less through the construction of the Palenque-San Cristobal-Pijijiapan highway.”

Finally, they invited the President to “on the date he decides be an honorary witness of a work group in which all those convinced in Chiapas will smoke the pipe of peace and sign the social reconciliation and pacification of our beloved state.”

For more information in Spanish:

Expresan en Chiapas apoyo incondicional a proyectos de AMLO (La Jornada, 24 de febrero de 2020)

Chiapanecos, a favor de programas sociales y proyectos de AMLO (La Voz del Sureste, 24 de febrero de 2020)

Realizan Primera Asamblea Estatal en apoyo al proyecto de nación que encabeza López Obrador (Prensa Libre, 25 de febrero de 2020)

For more information from SIPAZ:

Nacional : se lleva a cabo la asamblea Nacional en Defensa de la Madre Tierra y el Territorio, en la comunidad de Amilcingo, Morelos (February 24, 2020)

National: EZLN and CNI Hold Events on the First Anniversary of the Murder Samir Flores (February 25, 2020)

Chiapas/Mexico: EZLN, CNI and CIG Convene Actions in Defense of Territory and Mother Earth “We Are All Samir” (January 14, 2020)

Chiapas/National: Fourth Assembly of CNI-CIG Held in San Cristobal de Las Casas (January 13, 2020)