The OHCHR urges Mexico to Address Historical Inequalities Facing Afro-Mexicans.

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The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is urging Mexico to adopt structural reforms to support Afro-Mexican communities. Following a visit to the Latin American Country, the Working Group of experts on people of African Descent stressed the importance of addressing the historical discrimination faced by this minority group.

In May 2026, the OHCHR published an article on the Working Group’s visit to various regions of Mexico from 11 to 20 March 2026. Although the full report of the mission will be submitted to the Human Rights Council in September 2026, the UN agency has already shared a detailed summary of its findings. During the visit, the Working Group worked closely with government representatives, local institutions, and community members, who shared their experiences and supporting documents. 

The experts highlighted a long history of human rights violations and inequalities affecting Afro-Mexicans, including underrepresentation in decision-making processes, insufficient statistical visibility, limited access to justice and essential services, and environmental vulnerability. More specifically, Afro-Mexicans continue to face racial stereotypes that are  reinforced by derogatory media portrayals. These stereotypes contribute to their exclusion from public spaces, inadequate political representation, the stigmatization of religious and spiritual expressions of African origin, limited access to justice, and barriers to education. Vulnerable groups within Afro-descendant communities, including women and girls, children, migrants, and LGBTQ+ individuals are particularly affected. The experts also noted a widespread lack of awareness of the contributions Afro-descendants have made to Mexico's history and development. Historical records document the significant role played by Mexicans of African descent in public life, whose advocacy, talents, and resilience have contributed to define the country's society. 

Numerous studies have shown that slavery and the transatlantic slave trade, which treated people of African descent as property, laid the foundations for current racism and racial discrimination. In Mexico, this history dates back to the 16th Century, when enslaved Africans were brought to the American continent. For centuries, enslaved men, women, and children were forced to work in mines, livestock farms, in sugarcane fields, and trade-related activities. 

Despite the challenges, the Working Group acknowledged and praised the policies and initiatives adopted by the Government of Mexico to address these issues. These include the ratification of international and regional human rights protection instruments and the adoption of legal frameworks against racial discrimination. Some measures, such as the Special Programme for Indigenous and Afro-Mexican Peoples, were introduced following recommendations from the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. 

While recognizing the progress made by the Mexican government in recent years, Isabelle Mamadou, chair of the Working Group of experts on people of African Descent, stated that “Mexico’s historic constitutional recognition of Afro‑Mexican peoples cannot stay on paper, it must now translate into concrete measures, representation, historical memory and transformative change.” The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, also  recently visited Mexico. He welcomed the country’s “ongoing efforts to develop the General Law on the Rights of Indigenous and Afro-Mexican Peoples” but emphasized the importance of effectively implementing these policies to strengthen the national human rights system.

written by Ludovica Muncibì