Mexico: Civilian Observation Mission records human rights violations in the context of the Isthmus Interoceanic Corridor mega project

Expired
  • 23 national and international civil society organizations document various human rights violations related to the megaproject
  • The majority of attacks occur against members of indigenous peoples and communities; the Navy and the National Guard are mainly responsible for the violence.  Isthmus Interoceanic Corridor mega project

On 27 July, the Civil Observation Mission that began on 25 July in the region of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, Mexico with the objective of documenting human rights violations and attacks against human rights defenders and communities in the context of the mega-project known as the Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (CIIT), concluded its work.

Twenty-three national and international civil society organizations and eight journalists from national and international media participated in the Observation Mission. During the three-day tour, they visited affected people and communities in the northern region at the "Tierra y Libertad" camp in Mogoñé Viejo, Oaxaca, the Development Zone in Santa María Mixtequilla, and the community members attacked in Santa Cruz Tagolaba and Puente Madera.

The individuals and organizations participating in the Mission concluded that in the execution Front Line Defenders in Mexicoof the CIIT there are human rights violations of the inhabitants of these areas and of those who defend the collective rights of the indigenous communities; specifically their rights: i) to information, since the communities claim that they have not had access to all relevant information regarding the construction of the megaproject and its effects on their territories; ii) to participation, self-determination, territory, a healthy environment, and cultural identity, due to the failure to carry out a prior, free and informed consultation in accordance with national and international standards; and iii) to life, integrity, personal freedom and freedom of expression, among others, due to the physical aggression, harassment, and criminalization they are experiencing, especially those who are leading the struggle for nature, land and territory.
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