Indigenous rights groups protest electoral reforms in Mexico

Civil organizations and human rights defenders in Mexico are protesting recent legislative changes that they claim undermine the rights of indigenous and vulnerable populations.

In Chihuahua, a newly published electoral reform has drawn intense criticism for reducing the number of municipalities where political parties are required to nominate indigenous candidates. Critics argue the reform eliminates specific districts designed to ensure representation for original peoples. In response, legal strategies are being deployed, including the filing of 30 lawsuits before the State Electoral Tribunal to protect political-electoral rights.

Nationwide, there is growing opposition to the federal government's consultation process regarding the General Law of Rights of Indigenous and Afro-Mexican Peoples. The National Indigenous Congress (CNI) has denounced the proposal as “colonial, degrading, and racist,” arguing it facilitates the privatization of indigenous territories and requires communities to register in a government catalog, which they claim violates the principle of self-identification and autonomy.