Report Finds Mexico’s Mega-Projects Favor International Clients Over Indigenous Rights teleSUR
go to original November 13, 2017

Madriaga first became aware of the human rights violations after conducting in-depth investigations into government projects (@InaliMexico)

Mexico’s rural development shows authorities bulldozing the health and environmental concerns of Indigenous communities in favor of its international clients, a new study found.

Isabel Madariaga, former member of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, presented the findings to the United Nations after conducted a two-month-long study, analyzing three of the country’s mega-projects and the consideration giving to Indigenous residents.

According to her research, state authorities disregard the rights of Indigenous groups and frequently fail to hold informed consultations prior to construction, as required by both the Mexican Constitution and international law.



"There is an abusive use of power, both from the point of view of international law, which Mexico has promised to respect, and from the perspective of judicial resolutions that provide the protection for its people, which are both ignored by the authorities, in an open disregard for the rule of law and justice,” she said.

Madriaga first became aware of the human rights violations after conducting in-depth investigations into government projects such as the transgenic soybean fields in Los Chenes’ Mayan communities; the major highway construction plowing through the Otomi community in San Francisco; and Mexico City’s international airport built near the agricultural community in San Salvador Atenco.

On delivering her report, "Mechanisms of Dispossession: Three Indigenous Peoples and Peasants in the Face of Injustice,” to authorities, the former IACHR member encouraged the Mexican government to act, offering a number of solutions to meet the demands of the Indigenous communities and remedy the current situation.

Read the rest at teleSUR

We invite you to add your charity or supporting organizations' news stories and coming events to PVAngels so we can share them with the world. Do it now!