Violations of freedom of religion or belief are regular occurrences in some parts of Mexico. This is mostly due to the government’s reluctance to involve itself in religious disputes or situations of religious intolerance, even when these result in violations of fundamental human rights protected in the Mexican Constitution. These violations range from exclusion from school, to violence and forced displacement.

Recent years have seen a worrying rise in the number of violations of freedom of religion or belief across the country, specifically threats against and attacks on religious leaders by criminal networks.

This week please:

• Ask God to protect religious leaders who have been threatened by criminal networks;
• Pray for indigenous communities who have been displaced by violence;
• Pray for children whose education has been hampered as they have been excluded from school;
• Pray for the international community to hold Mexico to the international agreements it has signed up to;
• Pray for CSW as we continue to document and highlight the religious freedom violations and lobby key policy-makers;
• Pray for religious leaders who have spoken out about the religious freedom violations they face, often risking arrest;
• Pray that the Mexican Government would actively protect religious freedom.
• Get ready for advent: make sure your church has access to Connect & Encourage and to this Prayer Diary- they include some practical advent activities you can do together as part of your church life!