Territorial justice plan
Introduction
Plans for Justice and Comprehensive Development of Indigenous Peoples and Communities is an initiative of the Mexican government to address the needs and demands of indigenous and Afro-Mexican peoples, which seeks the self-determination and autonomy of these communities. [1][2][3][4].
Background
Mexico is the fourth nation in biological diversity in the world. Most of this biodiversity is found in indigenous territories and is combined with the cultural wealth of the people. Nearly 50% of the most important headwaters of the country's hydrographic basins are occupied by indigenous peoples; The regions with the highest rainfall are in their territories where 23.3% of the country's water is captured. A quarter of the country's social property is located in the territories of the Indigenous Peoples, which corresponds to 4,786 ejidos and 1,258 agrarian communities; In addition, there are 304 thousand small property units. Much of the wealth of the subsoil and the air is located in the territories of Indigenous Peoples. [5] [6].
Indigenous Peoples are characterized by their special relationship with their lands, territories and natural resources, where they have developed cultures, languages, arts, medicines, cosmogonies and their own forms of political, economic and social organization. Despite the great richness of its culture and forms of social organization, the potential of the land of its territories, in addition to the natural resources. Indigenous and Afro-Mexican communities suffer poverty, marginalization and exclusion. Denial, exclusion, abandonment, racism, in short, internal colonialism. This problem has prevailed due to the lack of long-term political design in accordance with its cultural, social and economic diversity; coupled with the lack of lasting public policies that are consistent with their forms of organization and that address their demands and life aspirations. [7][8] [9].
At the end of September 2024, after the approval of the Constitutional Reform on the Rights of Indigenous and Afro-Mexican Peoples, the pluricultural and multiethnic composition of the Mexican Nation was recognized, and the peoples and communities were recognized as “subjects of public law.” [10][11] [12].