Mexico: A Group called "Participacion Ciudadana" in Tlalnepantla, State of Mexico, including mandate, activities, party or union affiliations, names of executives and leaders; and harassment or threats against its members (1996-1999)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 28 January 2000 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | MEX33621.E |
| Reference | 5 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Mexico: A Group called "Participacion Ciudadana" in Tlalnepantla, State of Mexico, including mandate, activities, party or union affiliations, names of executives and leaders; and harassment or threats against its members (1996-1999), 28 January 2000, MEX33621.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ad6a24.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Participacion Ciudadana groups are widely reported in Mexican media to be community groups at the municipal level, rather than a single organization.
Staff at the municipal office that coordinates Citizen Participation councils stated during a 27 January 2000 telephone interview that in Tlalnepantla (full name Tlalnepantla de Baz), a city of nearly one million inhabitants in the State of Mexico, there is approximately one Consejo de Participacion Ciudadana (Citizen Participation Council) for each colonia, neighbourhood or community of the city, totalling 189 such councils. The office stated that there are no non-government organizations in Tlalnepantla, besides the councils, that carry the name Participación Ciudadana.
The director of the municipal office interviewed stated that the Consejos de Participacion Ciudadana are "intermediate organizations," entities created to serve as a link between communities and government (ibid.). The purpose of the Consejos is to serve as a forum where citizens can raise issues and various institutions¾not just municipal, but federal or non-government ones, too¾can meet, discuss and work out problems involving each or all communities (ibid.).
Sources consulted by the Research Directorate indicate that municipal or neighbourhood leaders and coordinators of Participacion Ciudadana groups in different states have participated in various seminars and workshops, such as the Federal Environment Ministry (SEMARNAP) Regional Sustainable Development Programs, PRODERS (SEMARNAP 6 July 1998).
The staff and directors of the municipal office stated that Participacion Ciuadadana councils are formed under the auspices of the municipal governments, and generally the executive of each council is elected by the citizens of the colonia represented by the council, who elect a president, a secretary, a treasurer, and vocales (representatives or members) (27 Jan. 2000). In Tlalnepantla at least, citizens generally occupy the executive posts of the councils for the duration of the municipal government's term; the current municipal government began its term in 1997 and will end it at the end of 2000 (ibid.). The director of the office stated that the councils do not have a specific political or union affiliation; however, persons who lead each council, and the communities they represent, often belong to or support particular parties or groups, and their stands can often reflect that. Nevertheless, the political affiliations or sympathies of the executives of Tlalnepantla's 189 councils are anything but homogeneous (ibid.).
A copy of the municipal bylaw governing the city of Tlalnepantla, including the formation and constituency of Consejos de Participacion Ciudadana, can be found at
References to harassment or threats against members of the Consejos de Participacion Ciudadana in Tlalnepantla could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Ayuntamiento de Tlalnepantla de Baz, Sud-Dirección de Participación Ciudadana. 27 January 2000. Telephone interviews with director and staff.
_____. 5 February 1999. "Bando Municipal."
Secretaria de Medio Ambiente, Recursos Naturales y Pesca (SEMARNAP), Mexico City. 6 July 1998. Directorio de participantes para el proceso de integración participativa del PRODERS-ZRDF.
Additional Sources Consulted
IRB Databases.
Latin American Regional Reports: Mexico & NAFTA Report [London]. 1996-1999.
Mexico NewsPak [Austin, Tex.]. 1996-1999.
Internet search engines including:
El Universal [Mexico City]. 1996-1999.
La Jornada [Mexico City]. 1998-1999.