Mexico Senate prioritizes autonomy reform for indigenous peoples

The Mexican Senate is preparing to prioritize a constitutional reform aimed at guaranteeing the autonomy and self-determination of 70 indigenous and Afro-Mexican peoples. The proposed General Law on the Rights of Indigenous and Afro-Mexican Peoples seeks to strengthen the rights of more than 25 million people across approximately 16,728 communities.

Regional assemblies have begun a process of prior, free, and informed consultation to shape the final project. The reform intends to allow these communities to define their own normative systems, methods of election, cultural heritage, and territory defense. Additionally, it would grant them the right to manage federal budget resources directly through community assemblies for infrastructure projects such as water, electricity, health, and education, without intermediaries.