MEXICO: AUTHORITIES MUST OBTAIN FREE, PRIOR AND INFORMED CONSENT FOR ‘MAYAN TRAIN’ FROM INDIGENOUS PEOPLES WHO COULD BE AFFECTED

Mexico must respect its obligations under international law and properly consult Indigenous Peoples on public policies and government actions that could affect their rights to territory and their economic, social and cultural rights

In response to the announcement made by the government of Mexican president-elect Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who will take office on 1 December, in relation to a proposal for a train that would run across five states in south-eastern Mexico, Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas Director at Amnesty International, said:

“The new authorities must ensure that this mega-project only goes ahead if the Indigenous Peoples who could potentially be affected give their free, prior and informed consent. Mexico must respect its obligations under international law and properly consult Indigenous Peoples on public policies and government actions that could affect their rights to territory and their economic, social and cultural rights.”

“Mexico has signed international agreements and instruments that require it to carry out a proper, comprehensive consultation in order to determine if the interests and ancestral territory of Indigenous Peoples would be adversely affected, and to what extent, before beginning or authorizing any project such as this ‘Mayan Train’. The informed consultation must comply with the criteria and requirements for participation and information necessary for decision-making, including environmental and social impact studies, and studies on the impact on the exercise of human rights.”