Our focus is in the south-eastern states of Mexico, specially in Chiapas, Oaxaca, Campeche, Quintana Roo and Yucatan where the majority of the population is indigenous and approximately 94 per cent live below the poverty line. In this zone natural disasters are also more frequent and their harmful impacts are greater than in other zones of the country.

Oxfam’s work in this sub-region covers three main aspects.

We work with local partner organisations that are helping poor communities to make a living and to protect their rights.

For example, we promote projects of local organisations whose aim is to increase the income of indigenous communities through a rational use of local natural resources; we provide them with sustainable agriculture and marketing techniques; organisation and institutional support; and encourage women’s participation and fair share of benefits.

We also aim to develop links between partner organisations and local authorities, so they can find ways to resolve conflicts.

This is mainly in states like Chiapas, where the tension between local communities and authorities has increased since the Zapatista uprising in 1994.

We have provided integral humanitarian aid in response to damage caused by hurricane Isidore in several communities in the states of Yucatan, Campeche and Quintana Roo.

As part of Oxfam’s Make Trade Fair international campaign, we are working with local partners to campaign for changes to unfair trade rules both at a global and national level.

We aim to reverse the negative impacts of unfair trade rules on small-scale farmers, indigenous people, and small businesses in Mexico. Recent activities include campaigning and lobbying at the World Trade Organisation Ministerial in Cancun, and the negotiations for the Free Trade Agreement for the Americas in Puebla and Miami.

Last updated: February 06