Rights Commission Sees Long Way to Go to Eradicate Mexico's African-Mexican Discrimination La Jornada
go to original July 10, 2015

The photo series "The Cimarron and Fandango" captures the Afro-Mexican people of the Costa Chica region, a remote area in southern Mexico. (Mara Sanchez Renero)

Mexico’s National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) has recognized that, despite the ongoing efforts of various institutions, there is still “a long way to go” before the discrimination suffered by thousands of Mexicans of African descent is eradicated. The CNDH stated that: "Racism, discrimination and intolerance in our country are a sad reality and are destroying lives."

At the close of the international forum on "Racial Discrimination and African Descent”, which took place in Boca de Río, Veracruz, the fourth general inspector of the Commission, Norma Inés Aguilar León, said that giving legal and constitutional recognition to the rights of the thousands of Mexicans of African descent is an urgent priority; neglecting to recognize their rights would condemn them to remain forgotten.

Speaking in front of Mexican and foreign experts as well as representatives of various State and African-Mexican agencies, Aguilar León emphasized that these Mexicans need to be made visible by the State and the legal system: “This is a pressing need that cannot wait. Its recognition must start in the Political Constitution and ordinary legal requirements because they are members of the nation, with all the rights.”

In a statement, the CNDH civil servant commented that most Mexicans of African descent live in poverty in rural areas, with insufficient services and with high levels of marginalization and social underdevelopment.

Read the rest at Mexico Voices

Translated by: Helena Redman

Mexico Voices is a blogging endeavor aimed at raising the awareness of U.S. citizens regarding the destructive impact of the U.S. economic policy and the War on Drugs on Mexico — on its people, their economic and physical security and their human rights, on the nation’s dysfunctional justice system, and on the rule of law and Mexico’s fragile democracy. Visit the website at MexicoVoices.blogspot.mx

Related: Mexico's Hidden People (CNN)

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!