Oaxaca recognized by UNHCR for historic internal displacement laws

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has recognized the government of Oaxaca, Mexico, for its historic actions regarding internal forced displacement. Chiara Cardoletti, the UNHCR representative in Mexico, praised the state's implementation of public policies designed to restore the rights and dignity of displaced persons.

During the installation of the Council for the Prevention, Care, Integral Reparation, and Lasting Solutions to Internal Forced Displacement, Governor Salomón Jara Cruz highlighted that Oaxaca is the fifth Mexican state to enact specialized legislation on this matter. The law, which took effect on September 18, 2025, is noted for criminalizing both arbitrary displacement and the obstruction of family return processes.

A key feature of the legislation is its participatory development, which involved over 50 working meetings and a process of free, prior, and informed consultation with indigenous and Afro-Mexican communities. The state also approved an Action Protocol for forced displacement cases and launched the ‘Derechos en Movimiento’ awareness campaign to address issues primarily stemming from agrarian conflicts.