GENEVA (3 November 2017) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, will carry out an official visit to Mexico from 8 to 17 November.
During her visit, Ms Tauli-Corpuz will examine diverse issues affecting indigenous peoples, including land tenure, mega-projects, political participation, access to justice, and economic, social and cultural affairs.
“I will explore the consultations undertaken to seek the free, prior and informed consent of indigenous peoples before any project affecting their lands or territories or resources is approved,” said the Special Rapporteur.
“I will also seek further information on reports that indigenous rights defenders are being threatened and criminalized, and I will study the protection measures available for leaders and communities at risk.”
During her 10-day mission, Ms Tauli-Corpuz will visit Mexico City, Guerrero, Chihuahua and Chiapas, and will hold meetings with state and federal authorities, as well as with indigenous and civil society organizations working for the rights of indigenous peoples. She will also visit indigenous communities to hear directly from them about their priorities and concerns.
Progress made in implementing recommendations made by the previous Special Rapporteur following his country visit to Mexico in 2003 will also be assessed.
At the end of her mission, on Friday 17 November, Ms Tauli-Corpuz will present her preliminary findings and recommendations at a press conference at 12:00 local time at the UN Information Center, Montes Urales 440, Lomas de Chapultepec, Miguel Hidalgo, 11000, Mexico City. Access will be strictly limited to journalists.
A final report containing findings and recommendations from the visit will be presented to the Human Rights Council in September 2018.
ENDS
Ms Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, is an indigenous leader from the Kankana-ey Igorot people of the Cordillera Region in the Philippines. She has worked for over three decades on building movements among indigenous peoples and as an advocate for women's rights. Ms Tauli-Corpuz is the former Chair of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (2005-2010). She was actively engaged in the drafting and adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2007.
The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.
UN Human Rights, Country Page - Mexico
For additional information before and during the visit please contact:
Arnaud Chaltin (+41 79 444 3993 / achaltin@ohchr.org) and Tom Haeck (+52 1 55 537 651 23 / thaeck@ohchr.org)
For media requests and queries relating to the press conference on 17 November please contact, in Mexico City, Gabriela Gorjón (+52 55 5061 6374 / +52 55 5438 1729 / ggorjon@ohchr.org).
For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts please contact:
Bryan Wilson – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9826 / mediaconsultant2@ohchr.org)
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