International Human Rights Law Institute (IHRLI), DePaul University
The Human Rights Law Institute partnered with Centro de Derechos Humanos y Asesoria a Peublos Indigenas (CEDHAPI) to provide training to employers and indigenous workers on labor rights in the Oaxaca region of Mexico. The program increased legal literacy, an awareness of workers’ rights, and created a network of civil society organizations and local attorneys that worked cooperatively to seek redress for labor violations among indigenous employees.
Challenge
Mexico's indigenous population is subject to a disproportionate rate of workplace discrimination. The marginalization of indigenous people is pervasive throughout Mexico, and it is especially apparent in employment environments where indigenous workers face a high number of labor rights violations, including abusive and illegal labor practices, dangerous working conditions, threats, harassment, and hostile work environments.
Program Summary
To address such discrimination in the workplace, DePaul University's International Human Rights Law Institute partnered with a local NGO in Mexico, the Centro de Derechos Humanos y Asesoria a Pueblos Indigenas (CEDHAPI), to provide legal training for both employers and indigenous workers on labor rights in the Oaxaca region of Mexico. The partners also created a manual and a pamphlet on worker’s rights, which were distributed in both print and electronic form to employers and employees.
Impact
Through the week-long training workshops for indigenous workers, the program increased legal literacy and awareness of workers’ right to bargain collectively. The training workshops for leaders from businesses, government, and civil society, helped to provide clarity about labor rights and employment law to help employers understand, prevent and correct discrimination in the workplace. As a result of the training workshops, a network comprised of civil society organizations and local attorneys was created. The network now shares information with one another and works cooperatively to seek redress for any labor violations among indigenous employees.
Partners
DePaul University’s International Human Rights Law Institute was the lead partner, working with the Centro de Derechos Humanos y Asesoria a Pueblos Indigenas (CEDHAPI).