Constitutional Affairs Commission approves indigenous reform

Mexico City. The Constitutional Affairs Committee of the Chamber of Deputies today approved four more opinions of the package of reforms included in President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s “Plan C”, including the one related to the recognition of indigenous and Afro-Mexican peoples as “subjects of public law”, and the one that includes in the Magna Carta the right to comprehensive, universal and free medical care.

In a marathon session that lasted almost 10 hours, the aforementioned legislative body also elevated to constitutional rank the granting of a pension to people under 65 years of age who live with a permanent disability, and various regulations regarding the protection and care of animals.

In the case of the first ruling – which was discussed precisely within the framework of the International Day of Indigenous Peoples, which was commemorated this August 9 – the text of the reform proposed by López Obrador recognizes this sector of the population “the character of subject of public law, because otherwise they cannot exercise rights such as receiving public funds, exercising them and fulfilling the corresponding obligations.”

The initiative also contemplates elevating to constitutional rank the right of communities to prior, free, informed, culturally appropriate and good faith consultation, in order to protect the rights, assets and values ​​of indigenous communities “when legislative and administrative measures are to be adopted that may cause significant damage or impact on their lives or environment.”

Although the ruling was approved unanimously by all political forces, with 37 votes in favor, Deputy Paulina Rubio (PAN) warned that, although the reform is important, “it falls short and incomplete” compared to all the needs and demands of indigenous peoples, so she called for the text to be expanded later.

On the other hand, the Constitutional Affairs Committee approved the opinion on medical care, through which Article 4 of the Constitution was amended, so that citizens who require it can see diagnosis, clinical studies, surgical interventions and medicines to prevent and control their illnesses included in their treatment plan.

As has happened with other initiatives of López Obrador’s so-called “Plan C,” the opposition parties indicated that they would vote in favor of the proposal, considering it to be a general step forward, but they demanded to know if the funds required for this issue would actually be granted, since “no modification is effective if a sufficient budget is not provided.”

Later, the deputies of the aforementioned commission gave their unanimous approval with 38 votes to the presidential initiative whose objective is to grant a non-contributory pension to people with permanent disabilities under 65 years of age. It was also specified that people over 65 are entitled to the non-contributory pension for senior citizens.

The changes to constitutional articles 4 and 27 also included that the State shall guarantee the rehabilitation and habilitation of persons living with permanent disabilities, giving priority to those under 18 years of age.

The last ruling approved this Friday, also unanimously, was the one on animal protection and care. It established that the State must guarantee the protection, adequate treatment, conservation and care of animals, and take care of wild animals so that they are not exploited by humans in shows for profit.

At the end of the session, the president of the Constitutional Affairs Committee, Juan Ramiro Robledo (Morena), announced that the next five opinions on the constitutional reforms proposed by López Obrador will be voted on between Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of next week.