Civil society organizations document various human rights violations mainly against members of indigenous peoples and communities related to the Interoceanic Corridor megaproject. In most cases, the Navy and the National Guard are responsible for the violence.
The Civil Observation Mission in which participated twenty three national and international civil society organizations and eight journalists from national and international media began on 25 July and ended on 27 July. The individuals and organizations documented human rights violations and attacks against human rights defenders and communities in the context of the mega-project known as the Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (CIIT).
During the three-day tour, the Mission concluded that in the execution of the CIIT, there are human rights violations of the inhabitants of these areas and of those who defend the collective rights of the indigenous communities; specifically their rights: i) to information, since the communities claim that they have not had access to all relevant information regarding the construction of the megaproject and its effects on their territories; ii) to participation, self-determination, territory, a healthy environment and cultural identity, due to the failure to carry out a prior, free and informed consultation by national and international standards; and iii) to life, integrity, personal freedom and freedom of expression, among others, due to the physical aggression, harassment and criminalization they are experiencing, especially those who are leading the struggle for nature, land and territory.
