Victims of forced displacement unite to demand that the law be immediately passed by the Senate

Release | June 9, 2022 | CDMX

Even though over 356,000 people were displaced between 2009 and 2020 as a result of violence in Mexico, the State does not recognize this humanitarian crisis and, therefore, does not work on the issue in a comprehensive manner. An example of this serious omission is that the bill for the General Law to Prevent, Address and Comprehensively Repair Internal Forced Displacement, which was already approved unanimously in the House of Representatives, has been frozen in the Senate of the Republic for more than a year.

Given the inaction of the State, in October 2021 the Collective of Victims of Forced Displacement and Accompanying Organizations was formed. The Collective’s work has focused on influencing the legislative process around the problem and making visible the serious humanitarian crisis of forced displacement in Mexico.

In the framework of this work, in recent days, the Collective held its first national meeting in Chilpancingo, Guerrero, where they prepared a strategy to make the problem visible and contribute to building lasting solutions, with the following demands:

1. For the federal and state governments 
   1. To instruct the Ministry of Revenue not to object to budget management in the legislative process so that the Senate Commissions can move forward with the bill; 
   2. For the structural causes of violence to be addressed and corrected, promoting a prompt and safe return to the communities with a planned action of community reintegration to continue developing decent living conditions.
2. For the Senate of the Republic 
   1. Immediate approval of the bill on Internal Forced Displacement, 
   2. That the forced displacement crime be typified.
3. For the state congresses 
   1. To make a joint call for the Senate to speed up the legislative process
   2. To include the issue in their respective legislative agendas, to give local attention to the problem.
4. For the autonomous public Human Rights bodies and the Victim Services Commissions 
   1. That they join the call for the passing of the law and the guarantee of the necessary resources to provide services to victims.
5. That there be a process of permanent dialogue between the State, the victims of forced displacement and accompanying organizations to evaluate and propose measures to address this humanitarian crisis.

The Collective reiterates our demands and call on State institutions to build comprehensive and lasting solutions to face the scourge of internal forced displacement. We are thousands of families demanding justice and building possible paths for a dignified life for all. 

The Collective of Victims of Forced Displacement and Accompanying Organizations is a group of families and displaced individuals in various states of the country and civil society organizations that accompany them. 

Collective of Victims of Forced Displacement and Accompanying Organizations:

Chihuahua:

– Consultoría Técnica Comunitaria A.C. 

– Centro de los Derechos Humanos de las Mujeres A.C.

– Displaced people from the Manzano Community

– Displaced people from the Monterde Community

– Crew of the documentary “Cruz”

Oaxaca:

Displaced people from Tierra Blanca Copala

Sonora:

– Colegio de Sonora

– Kaweruma Guarijio Support Network

Chiapas:

– Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas, A.C. 

– Voces Mesoamericanas

– Displaced Tzeltals from Ocosingo

– Displaced people from the Puebla de Chenalhó ejido

Guerrero:

– Centro Regional de Defensa de Derechos Humanos José María Morelos y Pavón

– Centro de Derechos de las Víctimas de violencia Minerva Bello

– Displaced people from the community of Leonardo Bravo

– Displaced people from the community of Zitlala

Quintana Roo:

– Displaced Kanjobales and Cakchiqueles from Maya Balam

Michoacan:

– Human Security Observatory for the Apatzingán Region

– Displaced people from Aguililla.

Mexico City:

– Servicios y Asesoría para la Paz A.C

– Red de Derechos Humanos Todos los Derechos para Todas y Todos A.C.

– Centro de Seguridad Humana y Prevención 

– Centro de Investigación y Acción Social A.C.

– Aluna acompañamiento psicosocial A.C.

Interstate work in Sinaloa, Sonora, Campeche, Quintana Roo and Chiapas;

– Foro para el Desarrollo Sustentable A.C.