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Study on Democratic Development in Mexico

Public Forum on Tuesday, March 4, Ottawa.

The study focusses on three areas of human rights organizing: 1) maquiladora workers in the state of Coahuila who are asserting their rights as human beings, women and workers; 2) a Mixtec community in the state of Oaxaca that is striving for recognition of its land rights and identity; 3) the residents of the borough (delegaci?n) of Iztapalapa, Mexico City, whose demands around economic, social and cultural rights have turned into an ongoing struggle for the right to participate in political life, that is, to be directly involved in the development and adoption of public and social policies that affect them.

According to Jean-Louis Roy, President of Rights & Democracy, "One of the most striking conclusions to emerge from the study is the fact that the three cases point to a common set of constraints on human rights due to exclusionary economic globalization. However, despite the tremendous obstacles to human rights effectiveness in Mexico, the actions of citizens working to meet the urgent demands of the population have been the determining factor that has allowed democracy to advance and created a counterweight to autoritarianism."

This study is guided by an analytical framework developed by Rights & Democracy in the early 1990s on the basis of existing international human rights instruments. The distinctiveness of this framework resides in its conception that there is a fundamental link between democracy and human rights, and that civil society - by seeking recognition of its rights - plays a decisive role in democratization. From a historical standpoint, Rights & Democracy considers democracy and human rights to be mutually reinforcing."

In addition to being a university professor, Mr. Reygadas is also Executive Secretary of the Coalition of Civil Organisations for Democracy (Convergencia de Organismos Civiles por la Democracia) in Mexico.

A public forum will be held on Tuesday, March 4, at the Novotel (33, Nicholas Street - Ottawa), from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

In addition, an informal discussion will take place in the offices of Rights & Democracy on Monday, March 3 (1001 de Maisonneuve blvd. east - Montreal), from noon to 2 p.m.