HRC56: Oral Statement during the adoption of Mexico UPR outcome

Item 6: Mexico UPR Outcome

Organisation:Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)

Speaker: Ellis Heasley

Thank you, Mr President,

CSW welcomes Mexico’s co-operation with the UPR process.

However, we are disappointed that Mexico chose not to support the recommendation from Germany to ‘adopt and implement the law on forced internal displacement, together with an effective prevention strategy.’¹

While we note the government’s points that an initiative for a General Law to Prevent, Investigate, Punish and Make Reparations For Internal Forced Displacement is currently being analysed in the Legislative Branch, and that internal forced displacement was included in the 2020-2024 Government Sector Program, we remain perplexed as to why it would not support Germany’s recommendation.

For example, there is an urgent need to respond to the forced displacement of over 150 members of the Great Commission Fundamental Baptist Church from the villages of Coamila and Rancho Nuevo in Hidalgo State.

The group was displaced on 26 April after village leaders, all Roman Catholics, cut off the electricity to the homes of the religious minority families, vandalised their church, and blocked access to some of their homes.

Over two months later, no action has been taken to hold those responsible for the displacement to account, and the displaced group, which includes over 70 children and infants, remain unable to return to their homes.

Human rights violations linked to freedom of religion or belief have been ongoing and severe in Coamila and Rancho Nuevo since 2015, however the municipal government has repeatedly failed to intervene and continues to deny that the incidents are linked to FoRB.

CSW reminds Mexico of its support for the recommendation of Gambia² to ensure the full and equal enjoyment of freedom of religion or belief for all and call on the government to take urgent action to address the mass forced displacement of these families and tackle the culture of impunity that surrounds violations of freedom of religion or belief in multiple states across the country.

Thank you.

Footnotes:

1. Recommendation 29.315.
2. Recommendation 29.132.