Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Commends Mexico for Progress in Reducing Poverty, Asks about Measures to Protect Human Rights Defenders and Reduce the Gender Wage Gap
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights today concluded its review of the seventh periodic report of Mexico under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, with Committee Experts commending the State’s progress in reducing poverty and asking about measures to protect human rights defenders and reduce the gender wage gap.
Ludovic Hennebel, Committee Expert and Leader of the Taskforce for Mexico, said significant progress had been made in Mexico since 2018, with the reduction in multi-dimensional poverty, the increase in the minimum wage, the ratification of International Labour Organization Conventions and several other achievements.
Mr. Hennebel said that the Committee was deeply concerned by reports of killings, disappearances and attacks against defenders of land, territory and the environment, and persons searching for disappeared relatives. Had any standards to protect them been adopted?
Karla Lemus de Vásquez, Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for Mexico, said that between 2018 and 2022, the wage gap between men and women had increased in both skilled and non-skilled jobs. What measures were in place to assess payment for jobs, particularly those with high female employment rates?
Francisca E. Méndez Escobar, Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations Office at Geneva and head of the delegation, introducing the report, said Mexico was promoting development, economic, social and cultural rights, and a fairer distribution of wealth. The new minimum wage policy had made it possible to meet the needs of workers and their families. Between 2018 and 2026, the monthly minimum wage had a nominal growth rate of 256.5 per cent and more than 13 million people were lifted out of poverty.
In the ensuing dialogue, the delegation said Mexico was implementing protection and emergency response measures for human rights defenders. Some 2,300 human rights defenders had benefitted from State protection programmes, including 400 environmental defenders.
On the gender wage gap, the delegation said the labour law of 2024 strengthened the principle of equal pay for equal value and contributed to the provision of fair and equitable labour conditions. The increase in the minimum wage had led to a reduction in the gender wage gap by up to 66 per cent in areas where wages were lowest.
In concluding remarks, Mr. Hennebel said the Committee recognised the State’s achievements and noted the challenges it faced. Mexico had an ambitious institutional and regulatory framework regarding human rights. The State party needed to reduce the gap between the norms it had adopted and the realities on the ground. He called on Mexico to combat discrimination, prevent human rights violations, support vulnerable persons and guarantee effective remedies.
Ms. Méndez Escobar, in her concluding remarks, said Mexico was committed to the full realisation of economic, social and cultural rights and environmental rights. Over the last few years, the State had achieved significant progress in implementing these rights but continued to face challenges. The Committee’s concluding observations would provide valuable guidance to the State party in its efforts to make progress.
In closing remarks, Preeti Saran, Committee Chair, thanked the delegation for the dialogue, based on which the Committee would develop concluding observations, including three priority recommendations for implementation within the next two years. She called on the State party to pay particular attention to these recommendations.
The delegation of Mexico was comprised of representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the National Institute of Statistics and Geography; and the Permanent Mission of Mexico to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
The Committee’s eightieth session is being held until 13 November 2026. All documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage. Webcasts of the meetings of the session can be found here, and meetings summaries can be found here.
The Committee will next meet in public at 10 a.m. on Friday, 6 November, to continue its consideration of the fifth periodic report of Austria (E/C.12/AUT/5).
Report
The Committee has before it the seventh periodic report of Mexico (E/C.12/MEX/7).
Presentation of Report
FRANCISCA E. MÉNDEZ ESCOBAR, Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations Office at Geneva and head of the delegation, said the preparation of the report brought together institutions of the executive, legislative and judicial branches; autonomous constitutional bodies; authorities responsible for the design and execution of public policies; and entities in charge of guaranteeing rights. Consultations were also held with civil society organizations.
Mexico had placed well-being and social justice at the centre of its national project, recognising human dignity, equality and non-discrimination as the basis of State decisions. The national development plan 2025-2030 and sectoral policies of the President’s administration promoted substantive equality, reduction of gaps and priority treatment of those who had faced historical exclusion. The State was promoting development, economic, social and cultural rights, and a fairer distribution of wealth.
For more than 20 years, Mexico had been carrying out a multidimensional measurement of poverty based on human rights, based on which social development policies and programmes were articulated. Welfare programmes were instruments to reduce inequalities and consolidate a welfare floor. By the end of 2026, these programmes would have more than 42 million beneficiaries, with a historic investment of one trillion pesos, equivalent to 57.5 million dollars. This policy strengthened social protection of the elderly, women, people with disabilities, students, young people, peasants, producers and fisherwomen, as well as indigenous and Afro-Mexican peoples.
In the workplace, the new minimum wage policy had made it possible to recover the purchasing power of workers and move towards sufficient remuneration to meet their needs and those of their families. Between 2018 and 2026, the monthly minimum wage had a nominal growth rate of 256.5 per cent and more than 13 million people were lifted out of poverty, of which 1.7 million people were lifted out of extreme poverty. In addition, in 2026, working poverty was at its lowest level since 2005. Mexico had promoted a new model of labour justice based on conciliation, freedom of association, union democracy and authentic collective bargaining. In addition, it had expanded social protection for domestic workers, persons who worked through digital platforms and agricultural day labourers, and was moving towards the gradual reduction of working hours to 40 hours per week by 2030.
In education, the Rita Cetina universal basic education scholarship benefited 14.9 million students during the 2025-2026 school year, and the Benito Juárez universal upper secondary education scholarship benefited 4.16 million students in the same period. In turn, the “Youth Writing the Future” programme supported around half a million students to continue to higher education in the school year. This policy was complemented by the expansion of educational infrastructure at the upper secondary and higher levels.
In the area of health, 24 states had joined the Mexican Social Security Institute for Welfare, which was expanding free care for the population without social security. In addition, the State carried out construction and rehabilitation of infrastructure, the training and hiring of specialised medical personnel, the supply of medicines and the house-to-house health programme, which brought preventive care to the elderly and people with disabilities. In turn, the universal health service sought to articulate the capacities of the main public institutions in the sector, strengthen primary care and move towards services focused on people's needs.
In terms of housing, the current administration aimed to build 1.8 million homes and benefit 12 million families through new housing, affordable credits, housing improvements and property regularisation.
Mexico promoted food sovereignty through programmes aimed at strengthening production, improving the income of producers, protecting native seeds and safeguarding foods that were fundamental to its identity and culture. National planning included a gender perspective and was linked to the guarantee of women's rights and the progressive construction of a “care society”.
Mexico had also reformed article two of the Constitution of 2024, which recognised indigenous and Afro-Mexican peoples as subjects of public law, with legal personality and their own assets. In this context, justice and regional development plans aimed to address historical injustices, protect territories, strengthen community well-being and respect these groups’ forms of organization. The direct transfer of resources also strengthened these groups’ autonomy and participation.
Addressing the causes of inequality was one of the pillars of the national public security strategy. In line with this vision, the State promoted inclusive and sustainable development, the generation of decent jobs, the strengthening of productive capacities and the reduction of regional inequalities. In addition, the “Youth Building the Future” programme, which aimed to include young people between the ages of 18 and 29 in the labour market, had benefited 3.5 million people in the last eight years.
These principles also guided Mexico's foreign policy. The country promoted humanist diplomacy guided by justice, peace, solidarity, international cooperation and respect for human dignity. Foreign action linked national priorities with multilateral debates on human rights, development, equality and social justice. Mexico would continue to pursue policies that inseparably linked social justice with human rights through solid institutions, sustainable policies, coordination between levels of government, social participation and evaluation of results.
Questions by a Committee Expert
LUDOVIC HENNEBEL, Committee Expert and Leader of the Taskforce for Mexico, said that significant progress had been made in Mexico since 2018, with the reduction in multi-dimensional poverty, the increase in the minimum wage, the ratification of International Labour Organization Conventions and several other achievements. However, there were also signs that were cause for concern. The Committee would address the major reforms that the State party had carried out, including regarding the election of judges, the amparo law, the dismantling of some bodies, water and energy laws and public expenditure.
Did Mexico intend to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Covenant? If so, by when? Certain regions lacked medical staff in Mexico as people were afraid to go there due to organised crime. There were lacunae in vaccination rates due to this. Many families had also had to flee their homes due to gang activities. How did the State assess this situation? Organised crime groups reportedly enjoyed acquiescence from federal and regional authorities. Was this true? To what extent had the State convicted members of these groups?
How effective was the amparo law, which had reportedly been restricted in cases involving environmental defenders. What had been done to protect these people? What concrete safeguards protected the independence and impartiality of judges?
The Committee was deeply concerned by reports of killings, disappearances and attacks against defenders of land, territory and the environment, and persons searching for disappeared relatives. Were these groups considered to be human rights defenders? Had any standards to protect them been adopted? Relatives of disappeared persons often lost their homes and their health was affected due to their loss of livelihood, and their children often dropped out of school. How was the State supporting these families?
What guarantees had the State party created to respect the autonomy and independence of institutions representing indigenous communities? How was the State addressing tensions between different groups? Had it carried out free, prior and informed consent-based consultations with indigenous groups related to economic development? What impact assessments had been carried out related to the Maya Train, the inter-oceanic corridor in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and the wind farms of the Isthmus? What reparations had been granted to displaced communities? What business and human rights policies were in place? How could persons legally challenge harmful business activities?
The State had disbanded independent institutions assessing social policies. Had they been replaced? What concrete results had been achieved by investigations into corruption in public procurement?
What was the scope of the national strategy to combat discrimination? Did it address discrimination against persons based on migratory status and against persons with disabilities? How was the State ensuring that persons sent back to Mexico from the United States had access to identity papers without discrimination?
Around half of Mexican women and girls aged over 15 had reportedly been victims of sexual violence. The State’s legal definition of statutory rape was problematic. How would it revise problematic provisions and define rape as a “lack of consent”?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said Constitutional reform rolled out in 2025 had been carried out because judicial agents were formerly not subject to the scrutiny of society. Thanks to the reform, all judges in the country were now elected. The reform was governed by an independent body, and there was also a judicial disciplinary tribunal set up, which was responsible for assessing the actions of judges. The reform promoted access to judicial posts for women and other disadvantaged groups. The reform’s reconfiguration of the Supreme Court allowed it to better protect economic, social and cultural rights. Persons could now submit amparo proceedings to protect their legitimate interests.
Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs needed the support of competent authorities to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Covenant. Authorities had not yet reached consensus in this regard, but the Ministry was engaged in consultations that it hoped would lead to ratification.
Mexico was home to some 16,000 different communities of 69 indigenous peoples and Afro-Mexicans, representing around 20 per cent of the population. The State party had taken steps to protect this group and strengthen self-determination. It had drafted the general law on indigenous peoples and Afro-Mexicans through broad consultations based on free, prior and informed consent, a right protected through article two of the Constitution and in legislation related to hydrocarbon and electricity sectors. Such consultations were carried out before the granting of any permits or contacts that could impact Afro-Mexican or indigenous communities.
Mexico had made headway in promoting a national business and human rights agenda, which focused on decent work, environmental sustainability and inclusive economic development. It had drafted a national business and human rights policy and held consultations between businesses, trade unions and civil society on preventing adverse impacts on human rights through business activities. In November 2025, the State party reactivated a non-judicial conflict resolution mechanism to address issues related to responsible business behaviour.
Mexico was a country of transit, destination, departure and return. The State had in 2025 rolled out the “Mexico Embraces You” programme, which provided psychological and medical support, legal advice, education and workplace opportunities for returnees. It had provided around 1.7 million different services to returnees, and granted more than 168,000 birth certificates and more than 200,000 welfare cards to these people. Mexico ensured that asylum seekers and refugees were integrated into communities and had access to public services under a local integration plan, through which 600,000 people had received support.
The State party was implementing protection and emergency response measures for human rights defenders. Some 2,300 human rights defenders had benefitted from State protection programmes, including 400 environmental defenders. The Ministry for Environment and Natural Resources had joined the governing body for the protection mechanism for human rights defenders and journalists.
The State party had assessed poverty levels since 2024 following a uniform, human rights-based methodology. This data was used by State agencies in charge of promoting social development. The State considered persons to be in poverty when they did not have sufficient income to satisfy their needs. It worked to strengthen the social protection programme to guarantee the social and economic inclusion of vulnerable groups.
For the first time in history, Mexico had a female President. Under her leadership, the State had in 2026 created 17 centres of justice for women in nine federal entities, and adopted an act that standardised the definition of femicide across the country.
Mexico was working to guarantee people’s safety and integrity. In the last two years, murders fell by 52 per cent and the rate of high-impact crimes fell by 36 per cent. The State was dealing with the root causes of organised crime.
Mexico had also made it a priority to address the issue of disappeared persons. The Federal Government was cooperating with State entities to combat this scourge. It had located 16,000 people, most of whom were found alive. The State was committed to guaranteeing the right to life and to physical integrity.
Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts
Committee Experts asked follow-up questions on how the State assessed the economic, social and cultural effects of organised crime; how authorities were held accountable for not preventing organised crime; how the State promoted enforcement of amparo orders; how it addressed the impacts of major development projects on vulnerable groups; whether the federal bill on discrimination had been adopted; whether the State had a register of the indigenous peoples in its territory; the implications of the State’s recognition of the status of indigenous peoples; and the State’s position on criticism regarding the methods it adopted to consult with indigenous peoples.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the Maya train project aimed to strengthen connectivity, economic activity and opportunities for development in the south and southeast of Mexico. In 2019, the State organised consultation assemblies with indigenous peoples on this project, and had imposed compulsory mitigation, compensation, restoration and monitoring measures for the project. Some 1,375 persons had participated in meetings on the project between 2020 and 2025. The State had protected 26,500 archaeological monuments uncovered during this project.
Consultation on the general law on indigenous peoples was ongoing. The Supreme Court provided comprehensive safeguards for indigenous communities, promoting their rights to free, prior and informed consent regarding projects likely to affect indigenous territories. The Attorney General had created a specialised office for indigenous peoples and Afro-Mexicans, and translation and interpretation services were provided in indigenous languages. The national development plan 2025–2030 promoted well-being and social justice for indigenous and Afro-Mexican communities. The State was promoting culturally sensitive consultation processes with indigenous peoples.
The national development plan aimed to generate some 1.5 million jobs in the manufacturing and other sectors and to ensure training for 150,000 technical staff. The plan guided the establishment of 15 economic development hubs, which were working to attract investment and regional growth, support small businesses and promote dignified, well-paid jobs.
The State had held more than 3,750 meetings with relatives of disappeared persons and had established regional bodies to investigate cases and gather evidence. It was committed to resolving remaining cases of disappeared persons. State agencies provided medical and psychosocial support to victims and their relatives.
A draft law on discrimination was currently being reviewed by the legislative branch, and reform of the Constitution that would incorporate sexual orientation and gender identity as grounds for discrimination was also currently being reviewed.
Questions by a Committee Expert
KARLA LEMUS DE VÁSQUEZ, Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for Mexico, asked if the State party could share data on the employment rate for indigenous peoples and persons with disabilities. What impact had labour protection measures had for workers in the informal economy? What measures were in place to address care work and support women’s employment in the formal sector? There were reports that the official unemployment rate of 2.7 per cent would skyrocket to over 10 per cent if it included people who were fit for work but were not actively seeking employment. Street traders were reportedly not recognised as workers. What measures were in place to provide workplace protection for people in working class jobs?
Between 2018 and 2022, the wage gap between men and women had increased in both skilled and non-skilled jobs. What measures were in place to assess payment for jobs, particularly those with high female employment rates? How would the State ensure that remuneration in the public sector allowed for a dignified standard of living? What percentage of poverty reduction progress was attributed to wage increases and to social welfare increases? How did the State monitor compliance with workplace regulations?
There were reports of organised crime groups working with employers to prevent the forming of trade groups. How would the State prevent such extortion measures? What major tripartite agreements had been reached in the last five years? Was there a monitoring mechanism for assessing the implementation of recommendations by the Committee and International Labour Organization oversight committees regarding labour rights?
The pension for persons with disabilities was only available to 1.6 million people, out of 8.8 million persons with disabilities registered with the State party. The disability pension was also reportedly only 20 per cent of the minimum wage. What measures were planned to extend coverage of pensions and ensure that they met living costs?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the State sought to progressively guarantee labour rights. The Ministry of Labour had a body that followed up on the recommendations of the Committee and International Labour Organization oversight bodies.
The 2019 labour reform strengthened freedom for trade unions and real collective bargaining. As part of this process, the State had created the Federal Centre for Conciliation and Labour Registration, which oversaw the national register of trade unions and collective contracts. The Centre had launched a process to simplify and digitise registrations. This year, it had processed over 8,000 registration applications. Since the Centre was launched, it had also mediated over 7,900 bargaining agreements.
The 2025-2030 development plan included measures for building care centres for children, an electronic disability certificate, door-to-door health services and the implementation of the women’s well-being pension. The Mexican Institute for Social Security aimed to promote the creation of 1,000 new centres until 2030. The Government had introduced measures to strengthen protections for domestic workers, who were included in the social security system as of 2022. This guaranteed their access to health services and social protection mechanisms.
The National Council for the Prevention of Discrimination had launched initiatives to identify, prevent and address discriminatory practices in the workplace and strengthen equality in job opportunities. The national plan for equality and non-discrimination 2026-2030 included measures geared for women, the elderly, persons with disabilities and indigenous peoples.
In 2026, more than 800 labour centres were registered, benefiting over a million workers, including half a million women. The labour law of 2024 strengthened the principle of equal pay for equal value and contributed to the provision of fair and equitable labour conditions. Mexico had also implemented policies promoting the employment of persons with disabilities through its national employment programme for this group.
The State party was working to strengthen the right to decent pay and improve living conditions for workers. It was increasing wages for the poorest in society and strengthening their ability to meet their basic needs. In 2026, the working poverty rate was reduced to 30.7 per cent, a fall of 3.2 per cent compared with 2025. Real income had increased by 27.1 per cent compared with 2019, and average wages for the lowest decile of wage earners had increased by 210 per cent in the northern area of the State. The increase in the minimum wage had led to a reduction in the gender wage gap by up to 66 per cent in areas where wages were lowest.
Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts
Committee Experts asked follow-up questions on measures taken to regulate the informal sector; plans to strengthen labour inspections in the domestic work and mining sectors; measures to increase domestic workers’ affiliation in trade unions and support their right to negotiate benefits; the number of domestic workers covered by the social security system; plans to accelerate the regularisation of domestic workers; measures to protect the right to strike; whether recently elected judges had been trained in international human rights law; development policies that sought to reduce regional inequalities; the impact of the disability pension in reducing the poverty gap for persons with disabilities; whether persons with non-permanent disabilities had access to pensions; the State’s approach to using social security and other policy measures to reduce its high poverty rate; and efforts to collect data on street traders and artisanal workers and protect their rights.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said Mexico had specific mechanisms promoting workplace inclusion for persons with disabilities. It had developed a national work and employment programme for persons with disabilities 2026-2030, and had set up 121 employment centres, which provided support to some 49,000 workers, including 700 persons with disabilities. Some 5,700 workplace inspections were carried out between 2024 and 2026 to monitor working conditions, including for persons with disabilities. The disability pension aimed to bolster the independence of persons with disabilities. As of June 2026, it covered 1.8 million persons, paying out a monthly pension of 1,650 pesos.
The State had taken actions to expand social welfare benefits for older persons and other vulnerable groups. In 2024, it had rolled out a labour certificate for agricultural businesses to ensure that they met workplace standards.
The State party had ratified International Labour Organization Convention 189 on domestic workers recently and had carried out a series of reforms to ensure their inclusion in the social welfare system. The social welfare law included provisions on domestic workers that bolstered the accountability of those employing domestic workers and strengthened protections of domestic workers’ rights. Social workers had undergone training on activities to formalise domestic work. There was also a national roadmap on decent work in the domestic work sector. These actions had yielded results: in July 2026, the Social Security Institute identified 73,000 registered beneficiaries who were domestic workers. Around 50,000 domestic workers had been able to access pensions. The State would continue to broaden social security coverage for domestic workers.
Questions by a Committee Expert
SANTIAGO MANUEL FIORIO VAESKEN, Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for Mexico, said the Committee was concerned by the plight of women searchers for disappeared persons. How many families had been registered as victims and what support was provided to them?
The Committee continued to be concerned by the recruitment of children and adolescents in armed groups. What mechanisms were in place to detect recruitment and provide support to recruited children, including to reintegrate them into society, rehabilitate them and restore their rights?
What policies had been adopted to prevent child, early and forced marriages, particularly in indigenous and Afro-Mexican communities? What results had the State’s policies for the protection of vulnerable children had? In 2025, an average of 86 minors per day were hospitalised due to corporal punishment. What measures were in place to reduce such violence? How did the State guarantee access to adequate food, early education and healthcare for children, and promote the best interests of the child?
What measures were in place to provide support to victims of gender-based violence? What support did children receive when they lost their mother as a result of this violence? Paternity leave in Mexico was a mere five days, whereas maternity leave was six weeks. What measures were planned to increase paternity leave and promote a more equitable distribution of family responsibilities?
How did the State guarantee tax and budget policies to mobilise the maximum available resources to bring effect to economic, social and cultural rights? The Committee was concerned regarding malnutrition and inequality in access to adequate food. Could the State provide data on food insecurity and malnutrition in rural areas? What measures were in place to ensure the right to healthy food and the regulation of food and drinks?
What steps had been taken to promote the effective coverage of health services and timely and free access to medicines and medical supplies? How did the State address financial and territorial barriers for accessing health for indigenous peoples and Afro-Mexicans, and guarantee culturally and linguistically adequate health services?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said enforced disappearance was one of the most painful situations facing the country and resolving it was a priority for Mexico. The State did not tolerate or permit the disappearance of persons in any form. It was committed to searching for disappeared persons, punishing perpetrators and guaranteeing the rights of relatives. Mexico had developed a national search strategy for disappeared persons, and a key part of this policy was support for relatives of the disappeared. Between October 2024 and August 2026, the State had provided support to 6,670 relatives. As of October 2026, more than 16,000 disappeared persons had been located. The State party acknowledged the remaining challenges in this field and pledged to continue to take steps to address them, including through international cooperation.
Mexico recognised that internal displacement could affect the enjoyment of several rights. The State was dedicated to guaranteeing access to rights and making progress towards resolving situations that triggered internal displacement. It had provided 34 houses to displaced families, as well as medical and humanitarian support.
The case of the Veracruz reef system, a protected natural marine area, was an example of access to environmental justice. In 2022, the Supreme Court recognised the legitimate interests held by local persons and recognised that environmental protection issues related to the project to expand the Port of Veracruz needed to consider potential waste impacts and the impact on local communities.
The right to strike was safeguarded in the Constitution and various international agreements had been ratified by Mexico.
The eradication of child labour was a fundamental priority for guaranteeing the rights of children and adolescents. The Federal Labour Code included an obligation to carry out periodic labour inspections in agricultural work centres to identify that they were not using child labour. In 2025, 1,072 workers under 18 were identified through this process and referred to child protection authorities. The national labour survey of 2025 reported that the number of children in employment had dropped by around 200,000 between 2022 and 2025. The State carried out campaigns on preventing child labour and trafficking in children, and the National Human Rights Commission also conducted training for officials on this subject.
The State party had strengthened its response to sexual violence. Between 2017 and 2025, it had tripled the number of specialised units for victims of sexual violence and doubled the number of support actions provided by healthcare services to victims. Mexico was now rolling out the third phase of its national strategy for the reduction of teenage pregnancy, which included various preventative actions related to sexual and reproductive health. The State was also working to ensure that rape legislation did not consider silence or lack of resistance from the victim to mean consent.
Mexico had rolled out measures to promote longer paternity leave schemes. Workplace labour regulations allowed for telework flexible hours and paternity leave for both parents. The State was promoting the granting of three months paternity leave for fathers in public institutions, and 927 men had taken such leave since October 2024.
The State had adopted a reform to the law to prevent trafficking in persons in October 2026, which included a specific section prohibiting the forced recruitment of children and adolescents. The State provided residential reception services and medical and psychosocial care for children in vulnerable situations. In the first quarter of 2026, it granted more than 1.09 million services for children in care.
Between 2020 and 2024, there was a 14-point reduction in the percentage of persons in poverty, from 43.9 per cent to 29.6 per cent. This fall represented some two million people. In addition, the percentage of people in extreme poverty fell from 8.5 per cent to 5.3 per cent. In 2024, the percentage of indigenous populations in poverty was around 68 per cent, compared to 26 per cent for the general population. Poverty in rural areas was 45 per cent compared to 25 per cent in urban areas.
Mexico had strengthened the right to nutrition through its social support and community development strategies, and its programmes on school food, food for the first 1,000 days of life, and food for the vulnerable and those in emergency situations. It was also promoting healthy life habits. Between 2018 and 2024, the rate of lack of access to quality food fell by 22.2 per cent, representing a reduction of eight million people. There were also food labelling laws in place that required specific mention of calorific content.
Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts
Committee Experts asked follow-up questions on how the State party protected the independence of judges when they handed down decisions related to economic, social and cultural rights; the number of pensions that had been reduced as a result of the recently introduced ceiling on pensions; the effectiveness of the State’s efforts to address shortages of medicines; the criteria used to register indigenous peoples; measures to guarantee the supply of water for human consumption and prevent contamination; how the State punished corporations that polluted and guaranteed reparation for environmental and sanitary harm; measures to prevent fracking; how the State guaranteed access for displaced communities to housing programmes and basic services; and measures to promote the restitution of land and homes for displaced persons and the provision of affordable homes to those who needed them.
Experts also asked about measures to ensure that indigenous and migrant communities had access to drinking water, sanitation, housing and social infrastructure; data on the number of mental health professionals and the provision of psychiatric medicines; whether the State had developed a policy for inclusion of persons with disabilities; the situation of returnees from the United States who were de facto detained in shelters for up to one year; measures to address child stunting and obesity, considering the increase in the rate of both; why the State had restricted the use of amparo proceedings; and measures to support access to methadone for drug users.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said Mexico had implemented guidelines for the preparation and distribution of food and beverages in schools, which limited the sale of junk foods. It had made over 300,000 manuals on these guidelines available to school staff and parents.
Mexico had a holistic mental health policy and an addiction support policy based on human rights. The State had rolled out many initiatives related to drug use, including the national strategy of emotional management, which aimed to prevent adolescent suicide. It had carried out over 1.6 million drug prevention activities between 2024 and 2026. Teachers and frontline workers had received training on preventing addictions and several hundred thousand young people had participated in addiction prevention activities.
The State had carried out 16 healthcare infrastructure projects since 2021. There were around 9,000 primary healthcare facilities in Mexico and the State had been working to reduce territorial gaps in access to primary care. It had set up homecare visits through which healthcare staff distributed medicines for chronic diseases, and it had also established some 1,000 automatic medicine dispensing machines. There was currently a 98 per cent supply rate of medicines from the central medical supply centre.
There was no detention of migrant women by force in Mexico. If migrants could not prove that they were staying in Mexico legally, they needed only to go to a migration centre to commence administrative proceedings, which lasted for a maximum of 36 hours. Since 2021, children and adolescents had not been held in migration centres but rather were referred to specialised protection units.
The State party did not engage in fracking currently but was assessing use of fracking technology that had a lower environmental impact. It had taken steps to strengthen the national framework on water and sanitation via the general law on water and the national water programme, which aimed to expand access to safe drinking water and reduce territorial inequalities. Mexico was currently implementing 17 strategic projects on water infrastructure worth 122 million pesos.
The State sought to expand access to housing for vulnerable and low-income families and individuals through the construction of new housing units. For 2026, the budget allocated by the Government for such construction stood at 1.7 million United States dollars. The State had set a six-year target for constructing 1.8 million new housing units, including 1.2 million for low-income workers. Measures had also been implemented to improve existing housing.
Mexico recognised persons with disabilities as full rights holders. To support persons with disabilities, the State party had rolled out the “Home by Home” healthcare strategy that provided health services for persons with disabilities in their homes. It was also implementing measures to certify healthcare units that were accessible for persons with disabilities and setting up one-stop support centres for persons with disabilities, though which they could access tailored equipment and materials.
Questions by a Committee Expert
LAURA-MARIA CRACIUNEAN TATU, Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for Mexico, said public spending in education had declined in the last five years, dropping to 3.19 per cent of gross domestic product in 2026, the lowest level since 2018. Almost 20 per cent of this spending was cash transfers through the Rita Certina scholarship. Why had public spending in education declined? Was there a plan to increase this spending? The Rita Certina scholarship had been criticised for widening inequalities, as it distributed aid equally to rich and poor areas. Had an impact assessment of the scholarship been carried out?
The Expert commended Mexico for improving the enrolment rate in primary education. However, it had reportedly not eliminated all hidden costs in primary education, including for books and uniforms. What measures were in place to eliminate such costs? Access to secondary and tertiary education continued to be a challenge for children from vulnerable groups and in remote areas. How was the State addressing this?
Could the State party provide information showing that migrant children who were de facto detained in migration centres were able to access their full economic, social and cultural rights?
The current literacy rate in Mexico was 96 per cent but was below 10 per cent in certain regions in the south of the country. What measures were in place to improve literacy rates in these areas?
There were cases of commercial exploitation of traditional indigenous knowledge and patenting of indigenous resources without consent. What measures were in place to protect indigenous peoples against such practices? The budget for cultural activities had declined by more than 20 per cent between 2017 and 2026. What was the reason for this?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the State party was working to reduce inequalities through its national development plan, which included measures to support creative industries and access to cultural property and services. There had been significant increases in public investment in cultural activities between 2024 and 2026, which allowed for increased support for artistic and audio-visual projects. Some 3,000 grants were provided to creators of various disciplines between June 2025 and 2026. There had been a 20 per cent increase in support for cinema projects, and support for indigenous and Afro-descendent broadcasts had also increased. The cultural sector accounted for 2.8 per cent of gross domestic product in 2025 and supported around 1.43 million jobs.
The State promoted indigenous peoples’ cultural rights. It had developed regional justice and development plans that included cultural initiatives in indigenous and Afro-Mexican territories. Further, the State had strengthened the protection of sacred indigenous sites, registering 249 such sites. It supported training in fair trade initiatives and had created a museum to showcase indigenous textiles. Mexico was also actively cooperating with the World Intellectual Property Organization on matters concerning indigenous intellectual property. The State party had a voluntary registry for indigenous and Afro-Mexican peoples that was based on self-determination.
The State’s education policy prioritised low-income homes, indigenous communities and other vulnerable groups. During the 2025-2026 school year, 14.9 million boys and girls received the Rita Certina scholarship. There was also an education grant for highly marginalised students. Some 465,000 students received scholarships for tertiary education, and around 74,000 students pursued their studies in institutions located in indigenous communities.
The State had provided over 165 million school textbooks in the last academic year and developed a programme for the improvement of physical school infrastructure, particularly in localities with high levels of social marginalisation. Schools and communities set their own priorities for strengthening education under this programme, which allowed the State to provide targeted support. Some 75,000 school communities had benefitted from this programme in the last academic year. Steps had also been taken to improve the quality of teaching through ongoing teacher training, which some 233,000 teachers had undergone in the last academic year. The State had also strengthened income mechanisms for teachers.
The State had bolstered its dual nationality project and efforts to regularise migrant children to support their access to education. The dual nationality project allowed for the issuance of key identity documents to 11,000 Mexican children and adolescents born in the United States.
Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts
Committee Experts asked follow-up questions on the percentage of promised investments in cultural projects that were actually delivered; guarantees for the protection of data on indigenous communities gathered by private technological companies; measures to prevent the extinction of indigenous languages; measures to continue improving the representation of women in the science, technology, engineering and maths fields; measures to ensure that displaced and urban indigenous communities not on the indigenous registry could access housing and resources to support their well-being; measures guaranteeing access to sexual and reproductive health resources and safe abortions; measures to reduce maternal mortality among indigenous and rural women; and measures supporting access to harm reduction programmes and residential support services for drug consumers.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the current administration had set up an unprecedented level of scholarships and grants for students. Over the last two years, the budget for culture was also increased.
To commercialise indigenous designs, persons needed to follow a process of free, prior and informed consent and show how the benefits of trading the design would be distributed to indigenous communities. The Constitution required indigenous peoples who wished to be registered to self-identify and settle in indigenous territories.
Mexico recognised that indigenous languages were an essential part of the State’s cultural heritage. Between 2018 and 2025, there were some 1.1 million hours’ worth of broadcasts on indigenous culture, and around 55 per cent of these were in indigenous languages.
The State party had rolled out substantive programmes in social work, education, healthcare and nutrition for migrant children, guaranteeing the protection of children and adolescents in all spheres. Migrant support centres provided food, places to sleep, clothing, healthcare, and cultural and leisure activities, as well as access to education. Social centres supported the inclusion of migrant children who wished to remain in the country and helped them to obtain visitors’ cards.
The Government had established a national strategy supporting the right of everyone to benefit from scientific and technological development. It administered 85,000 grants for postgraduate research programmes in 2025, 55 per cent of which benefitted women.
Closing Statements
LUDOVIC HENNEBEL, Committee Expert and Leader of the Taskforce for Mexico, thanked the Mexican delegation for its efforts to answer the Committee’s questions. The Committee recognised the State’s achievements and noted the challenges it faced. Mexico had an ambitious institutional and regulatory framework regarding human rights. The State party needed to reduce the gap between the norms it had adopted and the realities on the ground. The dialogue had addressed the rights of indigenous peoples and Afro-Mexicans, women, migrants, displaced persons, disappeared persons and their relatives, and human rights defenders; territorial inequalities; judicial reforms; the availability of public resources; the consequences of organised crime; and the effects of megaprojects on economic, social and cultural rights. The Government needed to combat discrimination, prevent human rights violations, support vulnerable persons and guarantee effective remedies. The Committee called on the State party to translate the concluding observations into budgets, laws, judicial decisions, public policies and administrative practices.
FRANCISCA E. MÉNDEZ ESCOBAR, Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations Office at Geneva and head of the delegation, said Mexico was committed to the full realisation of economic, social and cultural rights and environmental rights. Mexico had created a threshold of well-being and social justice through pensions, grants, scholarships, access to health services, adequate homes, decent wages, and the recognition of the rights of indigenous and Afro-Mexican peoples.
Over the last few years, the State had achieved significant progress in implementing economic, social and cultural rights but continued to face challenges. The Committee’s concluding observations would provide valuable guidance to the State party in its efforts to make progress. The State would continue to work with conviction to respect, promote and guarantee human rights, reduce inequalities, and strengthen protections for the most vulnerable. In closing, Ms. Méndez Escobar thanked the Committee for the dialogue.
PREETI SARAN, Committee Chair, thanked the delegation for responding to the Committee’s questions in a constructive spirit. Based on the dialogue, the Committee would develop concluding observations, which would include three priority recommendations for implementation within the next two years. The Committee called on the State party to pay particular attention to these recommendations. Ms. Saran closed by thanking all those who had contributed to the dialogue.
___________
Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media;
not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.
CESCR26.026