Experts in United Nations human rights today expressed their concern for the possible negative impact that he mayan trainmegaproject of the Government of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, can have in the human rights of the mexican indigenous people and in the environment from the area.
In a statement signed by 14 UN rapporteurs and other experts, fear was expressed that the 1,500-kilometer project, with an investment of 20,000 million dollars, endangers the rights to land and natural resources, to culture and a healthy and sustainable environment.
They also denounced that human rights defenders who have expressed similar concerns have suffered threats and attacks, as well as very limited access to independent and impartial courts.
The experts further expressed concern that the mayan train It has been elevated to the category of “national security project”, which in his opinion “allows the application of environmental and social safeguards to be repealed.”
As a state-led project, the Mexican government should take additional steps to ensure respect for human rights and the environment.”
the representatives of the United Nations affirmed.
One of them, the chairperson of the Working Group of the UN on Business and Human Rights, Fernanda Hopenhaym, expressed in the note her “great concern” about the growing participation of the Mexican army in the construction and management of the project.
The experts asked the Government of López Obrador to guarantee a significant participation of the affected communities in this project, as well as greater transparency when evaluating its environmental and human rights impact “before any future decision.”
The multinational companies involved in the construction are accused by experts of “lack of due diligence in the field of human rights”.
The relevant companies and investors domiciled in Spain, the United States and China cannot turn a blind eye to the serious human rights problems related to the Mayo Train project”,
concludes the statement.
The project, one of the most emblematic of the Mexican Government and whose construction began in 2020, would link the main destinations in the southeast by rail, one of the most touristic areas of the country, in the states of Campeche, Chiapas, Quintana Roo, Tabasco and Yucatan.
Among the signatories of today’s communiqué are the rapporteurs of the UN for freedom of expression (Irene Khan), for human rights defenders (Mary Lawlor), and for indigenous rights (Francisco Cali Tzay).
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