UN Experts Urge Mexico to Take Urgent Action Against Systemic Racism Facing Afro-Mexican Communities

The Working Group warned that without effective implementation, constitutional recognition risks becoming symbolic rather than transformative.

United Nations experts have called on Mexico to undertake urgent structural reforms to address the long-standing effects of systemic racism, historical injustice, and discrimination faced by Afro-Mexican communities across the country.

The appeal came at the conclusion of an official visit by the UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, which examined the human rights situation of Afro-Mexican peoples and assessed progress made since Mexico formally recognised Afro-Mexicans in its Constitution.

The experts acknowledged that Mexico has taken important steps in recent years, including constitutional reforms, improved statistical recognition, and initiatives aimed at promoting the rights of Afro-Mexican communities. However, they warned that legal recognition alone is not enough without meaningful implementation and institutional change.

"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," said Isabelle Mamadou, Chair of the Working Group.

Recognition Must Lead to Real Change

The UN delegation stressed that while official recognition of Afro-Mexican peoples represented a major historical achievement, many Afro-descendant communities continue to experience deep social inequality, discrimination, and exclusion.

According to the experts, Afro-Mexican communities consistently expressed a desire for a new relationship with the Mexican State — one based on full participation in decision-making, territorial justice, equal development opportunities, and recognition of historical injustices.

The Working Group warned that without effective implementation, constitutional recognition risks becoming symbolic rather than transformative.

"Recognition without implementation risks turning this historic achievement into an empty promise, further entrenching inequality rather than resolving it," the experts said.

Structural Discrimination and Underrepresentation Remain Widespread

During their visit, the experts identified several major challenges affecting Afro-Mexican populations.

These included persistent structural discrimination, limited political representation, inadequate access to justice, poor access to public services, environmental vulnerability, and continued social invisibility.

The Working Group also expressed concern about the lack of reliable disaggregated data relating to Afro-descendant populations in areas such as healthcare, migration, education, employment, disappearances, and criminal justice.

Officials warned that the absence of accurate data makes it difficult for authorities to develop effective public policies and contributes to the continuation of inequality.

"Mexico still does not know how many Afro-descendant persons disappear, migrate or access justice," the experts noted.

Concerns Over Racial Profiling

The UN experts also raised serious concerns about racial profiling practices in Mexico.

According to the Working Group, skin colour continues to be used as a factor in police checks, migration enforcement operations, and security controls at transportation hubs such as airports and bus stations.

"Racial profiling remains endemic in the country," the experts said.

"Skin colour continues to be used as a criterion for suspicion in police controls and migration operations."

Human rights advocates have long argued that Afro-Mexican communities and other racialised groups face disproportionate scrutiny from law enforcement and migration authorities.

Calls for Reparatory Justice and Institutional Reform

The Working Group stressed that addressing these issues will require fundamental structural reforms rather than isolated policy changes.

Among the measures recommended were:

• Stronger anti-racism laws and policy reforms

• Reparatory justice initiatives

• Positive action programmes to address inequality

• Reform of school curricula to better reflect Afro-Mexican history and identity

• The creation of specialised institutions focused on Afro-Mexican rights

• Strengthening existing human rights and anti-discrimination mechanisms

The experts emphasised that policies affecting Afro-Mexican communities must adopt a specifically anti-racist and differentiated approach rather than simply including Afro-Mexicans within broader frameworks originally designed for Indigenous Peoples.

They said Afro-Mexican communities should be directly involved in shaping policies and reforms that affect their lives.

Historical Debt Still Unresolved

The UN delegation concluded that meaningful progress will require sustained political commitment and genuine participation from Afro-Mexican communities themselves.

"Afro-Mexican communities need sustained political will, structural reforms, and meaningful participation to secure their rights and settle this historical debt," the experts said.

The Working Group is expected to present its full report and recommendations to the United Nations Human Rights Council in September 2026.

The findings are likely to increase international attention on racial inequality and discrimination in Mexico, while placing additional pressure on authorities to strengthen protections and opportunities for Afro-descendant communities.