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Mexico: Treatment of Minorities

Mexico: Treatment of Minorities. Saki Amagai and KyoRy Park. Indigenou s groups in Mexico. One of the largest and most diverse indigenous populations in Latin America. 12.7 million indigenous people 13% of the national population 62 indigenous languages (but 84% also spoke Spanish)

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Mexico: Treatment of Minorities

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  1. Mexico: Treatment of Minorities Saki Amagai and KyoRy Park

  2. Indigenous groups in Mexico • One of the largest and most diverse indigenous populations in Latin America. • 12.7 millionindigenous people13% of the national population • 62 indigenous languages (but 84% also spoke Spanish) • The majority is concentrated in the southern and south-central region. • Náhuatl (22.7%) • Maya (13.5%) • Zapoteco (7.6%) • Mixteco (7.3%) • Otomí (5.3%) • Tzeltal (5.3%) • Tztotzil (4.3%) • Totonaca (3.9%) • Mazateco(3.2%) • Chol(2.4%)

  3. Income inequality • The average income of the richest 10% of households in Mexico is 26 times higher than the one for the poorest 10% of households. • 80% live in extreme poverty. • 1.8 million people in Chiapas live < $4 a day. • Most are farmerswith low wages. • Most are unable to speak Spanish, thus education is often unavailable to them. They can’t even vote.

  4. Europeancolonization • In the late 15th century, Europeans started to explore to.. • 1) search for a direct route to India • 2) get gold and spices • 3) spread the teachings of Christianity • European colonization of Americas started in 1492, when Christopher Columbus discovered the “New World”. • eventually made four voyages to Americas

  5. Colonization of Americas • The Conquistadors attacked the Americas in the early 16th century to expand their territories. • Herman Cortes overthrows the Aztec empire in 1520.

  6. Slavery #1 • In 1524, the Aztecs were conquered and enslaved. • Cortes distributed the colonists with encomiendas (vast tracts of land). All indigenous people living within the boundaries were forced to become slaves. Slaves were a major part of the Mexican economy, because agriculture and mining were formed the basis of it.

  7. Slavery #2 • Father Bartoleme de las Casas suggests in ending the illegal enslavement solution: import blacks slaves from Africa • Hefailed to end slavery, but the lives of the natives improved after Audiencia, a new Court, was in place. • The new Viceroy did the most to improve them by setting up standards for their treatment. Ex) The natives can’t be forced to carry more than 100 pounds.

  8. Slavery #3 • The “freed” indigenous people still had to endure “forced labor” to build roads. • Repartimientos (government controlled labor drafts created in the early 17th century) provided work at the Spanish-owned estates and mines at salaries set by the government. • Mexican independence 1824: Spanish rule in Mexico ends. • In 1829, the last slaves were finally freed.

  9. Federal Law to prevent and eliminate discrimination (LFPED) 2003 • LFPED bans“discriminationfor any reason and pro-motes a new culture where by discrimination is rec-ognized and tackled and human rights enjoy unre-stricted and universal respect.” • published in the Official Journal of the Federation on June 11th 2003 • The National Council of the Prevention of Discrimin-ation (CONAPRED)—organization for responsibility was created recently

  10. Federal Law to prevent and eliminate discrimination (LFPED) 2003 • Discrimination based on...: • Ethnic origin, nationality, sex, age, disability, socioeconomic stat-us, health condition, pregnancy, language, religion, opinion, sexual pr-eferences, marital status… • Law includes: Restricting opportunities to gain tenure/seniority or promotion Establishing differences in salary, benefits and workplace condition Limiting access to training and professional development programs Applying any type of use or custom against human dignity or integrity Exploiting or treating employees abusively or in a degrading manner Engaging in or promoting physical or psychological abuse based on physical appearance, form of dress, speech, mannerism…

  11. Stake holders • Discriminated people • Generally support the law • No need to emigrate • Industries/companies in Mexico • Need to hire employees without discrimination • Provide more equal workplace condition • May affect the output • The USA - Less immigration of workers from Mexico • Racists, Feminists, Religious groups…

  12. Manner of consultation • Protests by indigenous people • In March of 1999, the Zapatistas organized a Consulta on Indigenous Rights and Culture, gathering more than 5,000 civilians. • In February of 2001, Zapatistas and other indigenous groups demand the gov’t to comply with the San Andres Accords, which grants more rights and equality for them. • In April of 2001, the indigenous organizations denounces the mutilated version of the San Andres Accords.

  13. Key decision makers • Mexican federal government LFPED is a federal law enacted by federal government • Civic Commission on Studies against Discrimination Democratic organization which created the law

  14. Current issue • Most indigenous people have achieved in forming local organizations to defend their culture and land. However, the indigenous people in Mexico experience “a double form of discrimination” even after legislative reforms and the signing of treaties and accords: • 1) low economic standing and poor levels of formal education • 2) language, dress and other cultural manifestation • The government doesn’t acknowledge that racial discrimination is what’s causing poverty, but rather that the poverty itself is the cause of discrimination.

  15. Ouropinions • Saki: I think problems dealing with racial discrimination are one of the hardest ones to resolve, because it deals with people’s emotions. One person’s hatred toward another race can’t be fixed simply with laws. I think LFPED is effective in minimizing the extent of discrimination, but I don’t think it can eradicate it entirely. • KyoRy: I personally like this law very much since it contributes to equality and tries to get rid of discrimination; however, I’m concerned that those who used to discriminate others might still grow inner discontent against the prohibition by law. In other words, the real effectiveness of the law is questionable.

  16. Discussion questions • Why do you think the indigenous are facing more disadvantages than the Mestizos today? How does it relate to the country’s history? • If you were the leader of Mexico, how would you resolve the problems with discrimination?

  17. Bibliography • The colonization of Mexico, Memo. 2008. Retrieved on February 10thfrom http://www.memo.fr/en/article.aspx?ID=PAY_ESP_012 • Slavery in Mexico, Mexconnect. 2008. Retireved on February 10th fromhttp://www.mexconnect.com/articles/666-slavery-in-mexico • World Directory of Minorites and Indigenous people, UNHCO. Retrieved on February 10th from http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/publisher,MRGI,,MEX,49749ce423,0.html • Minority Rights Group International, World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - Mexico : Indigenous peoples. 2008.Retrieved on February 10th from http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/49749ce423.html [accessed 11 February 2013] • The widening income gap, Geo-Mexico. 2011. Retrieved on February 10th from http://geo-mexico.com/?p=5572

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