The Durango State Congress organized a conference on constitutional reforms regarding the rights of Indigenous and Afro-Mexican peoples, led by Hugo Aguilar Ortiz, director of the National Institute of Indigenous Peoples (INPI). This activity is part of the legislative harmonization process that seeks to adapt local legislation to the changes established at the federal level.
The conference was attended by traditional governors from the Tepehuan, Mexicanera, Wixaritari, and Cora communities, as well as local representatives and state authorities. In his remarks, the president of the Governing and Political Coordination Board, Héctor Herrera Núñez, highlighted the importance of these forums as a space to analyze the impact of the reform in Durango, an entity with a significant presence of Indigenous communities in municipalities such as Mezquital, Pueblo Nuevo, and Guanaceví.
Herrera Núñez expressed the legislators’ commitment to adapting local legislation to guarantee the rights of Indigenous peoples, ensuring their full protection and recognition. He also acknowledged the advances in infrastructure and connectivity promoted by the federal government, although he emphasized that significant challenges remain that require attention.
For his part, Professor Hugo Aguilar Ortiz offered a historical analysis of the progress made in Indigenous rights over the past three decades. He emphasized that the path to justice for Indigenous peoples involves recognizing Mexico’s plurality, understanding that the country is not homogeneous, but rather a multicultural nation. He emphasized that the reform seeks effective recognition of the country’s diversity and the construction of a more inclusive nation.
Olga Santillán Rodríguez, representative of the INPI in Durango, emphasized that the constitutional reform is a significant step in recognizing Indigenous and Afro-Mexican peoples as subjects of public law, with legal personality and their own heritage. She emphasized that this progress is the result of the communities’ historical struggles, and although much remains to be done, she stressed that this is a unique opportunity to generate profound change in the communities.
Finally, Virginia Flores, traditional governor, stated that this reform represents a turning point in the history of Indigenous and Afro-Mexican peoples. She affirmed that, although the communities feel visible and taken into account, they also assume the responsibility to assert these rights for the common good.
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Source: oem
