Oaxaca indigenous communities demand water and territory rights

Community authorities and organizations in Juchitán, Oaxaca, are demanding that the new General Law on the Rights of Indigenous and Afro-Mexican Peoples guarantees collective rights to water and territory.

During a forum held on September 19 and 20, leaders emphasized that water should not be treated as a commodity and that decisions regarding indigenous territories must involve the local communities. They are seeking formal recognition of community-based systems for managing, administering, and protecting water sources such as springs, rivers, and aquifers.

The groups also expressed concern regarding extractive and infrastructure projects, advocating for the protection of rights previously achieved through a 2021 Presidential Decree that recognized community administration of water based on principles of self-determination and autonomy.