CSW has today released a report on the situation of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) in Mexico which finds that the Mexican government is failing to protect individuals at risk of FoRB violations despite rhetoric that claims to promote respect for human rights.

The report, titled ‘Protection on Paper: The Situation of Freedom of Religion or Belief in Mexico’, details how violations of FoRB in the country largely fall into two general categories which sometimes overlap: those perpetrated by organised criminal groups, and those which occur in villages governed under the system of uses and customs, which allows for the exercise of traditional law and authority structures in indigenous communities.

The report highlights how leaders in many communities governed by uses and customs believe that it is their right to enforce religious belief and practice, including through forced financial contributions to and compulsory participation in events typically associated with the majority religion. Failure to comply can result in violations including the denial of birth and burial rights, the removal of the right to vote and work, the blocking of access to basic services, damage or destruction to property, threats, arbitrary detention, violence and forced displacement.

Elsewhere, violations of FoRB arise from restrictions on free movement imposed by organised criminal groups seeking to protect themselves from rival groups or federal security agencies. Religious activities are often restricted, suspended or physically impossible to carry out, while those who do not obey these restrictions, and religious leaders who publicly condemn violence and illegal activities are often threatened, subjected to violence, and sometimes forcibly displaced, disappeared or killed.

The report also highlights how FoRB violations are frequently inadequately addressed or ignored by both state and federal authorities, creating a cycle wherein victims and witnesses are not incentivised to report violations as they are unlikely to receive support from the government, which in turn reduces the visibility of the issue and institutional interest in addressing it.

Pablo Vargas, National Director for Impulso18, said: ‘The government of Mexico must provide education on freedom of religion or belief at all levels, underscoring the independence of the state from any religious organisation or confession, ensuring that all individuals can practice their beliefs freely without governmental bias, and promoting tolerance and respect for the ideas, beliefs and practices of others. Crucially, it must also cultivate a set of values, attitudes and behaviours that reflect respect for life, the dignity of the individual, and human rights to create a more inclusive environment where diverse religious beliefs are respected and protected, thereby safeguarding the rights of all individuals regardless of their religion or belief.’

CSW’s Director of Advocacy and Americas Team Leader Anna Lee Stangl added: ‘Mexico must also urgently address the culture of impunity which often surrounds those responsible for human rights violations, from members of organised criminal groups to leaders of indigenous communities attempting to enforce religious uniformity. Perpetrators must be brought to justice, and victims must be given confidence that reporting their experience will result not only in a swift response from the government but also in protection from further violations.’

Notes to Editors:

1. Click here to download the report as a PDF.
2. Click here to download the report in Spanish.
3. Impulso18 is CSW’s operating name in Latin America.
4. 'Uses and Customs' is a general term that refers to the right of indigenous communities to govern themselves according to their traditions. In international law it is referred to as ‘the self-determination of indigenous peoples’, established as such in 1989 in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples during the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples. This right must be exercised with respect at all times for the fundamental human rights defined in the constitution and international law.