Indigenous groups in Michoacán protest rights law consultation

Indigenous communities in Michoacán, Mexico, are protesting the consultation process for the General Law of Rights of Indigenous and Afro-Mexican Peoples. Purépecha women's collectives have characterized the process as a “simulation,” arguing that it fails to meet national and international standards for free, prior, and informed consent.

Critics point to the complexity of the 208-page legislative proposal, noting that its length makes it difficult for communities to debate and reach consensus within the government's established timelines. There are also concerns regarding whether the document has been translated into the 68 national indigenous languages and local variants.

Simultaneously, representatives of the Pirinda people reported being blocked from participating in a regional consultation forum in Pátzcuaro. They issued a formal rejection of actions taken by the Supreme Indigenous Council of Michoacán (CSIM), accusing the group of using physical force and blockades to prevent peaceful access to the National Institute of Indigenous Peoples (INPI) facilities.