The Mexican authorities must tackle discrimination and implement measures to ensure migrants and Indigenous Peoples have access to their basic human rights, Amnesty International said today, ahead of an appearance in front of an anti-racial discrimination UN body.
The United Nations (UN) Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination will evaluate Mexico’s performance on the issue of racial discrimination on 14th and 15th February.
On 14th February, the Mexican authorities will present a document detailing measures taken to comply with the International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination.
Amnesty International presented the Committee with a briefing report looking at the abuses suffered by migrants and Indigenous peoples.
“Discrimination is still widespread and pervasive in Mexico,” said Rupert Knox, Mexico Researcher at Amnesty International.
“For migrants crossing Mexico, discrimination means being subjected to extortion, ill-treatment, abduction, rape, murder and forced recruitment into criminal gangs. For Indigenous Peoples, it is living in extreme poverty and marginalization, with little access to basic services and justice and facing attacks when they are trying to defend their rights.”
Note to EditorsFor a full copy of Amnesty International’s submission to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, please see: https://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/AMR41/081/2011/en