Human Rights

Human rights which have their origin in the inherent dignity of all people. They are then universal, indivisible, inalienable, and interdependent. The unrestricted respect for human rights is a necessary guarantee in order that humans may reach their full development and be able to live a dignified life. It is for this reason that INCIDE SOCIAL works extensively in the area, positioning an integral vision within it that is not limited to recognising only civil and political rights but rather fully recognises economic, social, cultural and environmental rights.

In Mexico the issue of human rights has not surpassed the vulnerability stage: their recognition is strengthened or weakened depending on the political interests of those in power at a given time. The challenge is to promote the complete fulfilment of human rights and to avoid setbacks in terms of what has already been gained, fostering their demandability and justiciability. At INCIDE SOCIAL we work towards the building of a State Policy on human rights that provides a window of opportunity for the promotion of citizen participation across the country as well as for the building of a new national economic, social and cultural agreement.

Social Development

Social development is a fundamental part of guaranteeing improvements to peoples’ quality of life: sustainable development is impossible without social justice and equality. The issue of social development in Mexico is extremely sensitive given that this is a country ridden with profound inequalities and with elevated levels of poverty and underdevelopment in a large part of the national territory. This situation of inequality and exclusion, combined with the social consequences resulting from the economic crises, have caused a profound deterioration in the social fabric.

The degree of complexity that the country’s society has arrived at, the diversification of interests and the elevated levels of heterogeneity and inequality make necessary the progress toward a new social agenda which considers a wider diversity of areas, moving beyond the goal of overcoming poverty. In order to achieve a greater degree of equality a development policy that brings together economic and social aspects is needed, as well as one that takes into account a greater equality when defining its development strategy and macroeconomic policy.

At INCIDE SOCIAL we work towards the positioning of a modern concept of social rights by incorporating a human development focus and by reaching towards a comprehensive social security. The issues that we group together under the heading of social development are: education, health, employment, housing, nutrition, inequality and poverty, senior adults and families.

Democracy

While democracy in Mexico has made advances in terms of electoral processes there are however issues excluded from the democratic agenda. The Mexican government has related the development of democracy almost exclusively with the development of the national electoral system, leaving to one side fundamental issues like citizen participation, justice, and social equality.

In the specific case of the promotion of citizen participation in the elaboration of public policy, we find that the space for this is still limited and whether it is opened up or not is decided by the approval or not of the present-day political class. At INCIDE SOCIAL we believe that democracy is something more than free elections. Democracy must be established upon a solid state of law and should lay the foundations for development, peace, respect, justice and the common good of the community, in which all participate and from which all benefit.

Democracy is an essential precondition for the real exercise of the fundamental freedoms and human rights of all people. At INCIDE SOCIAL we recognise that democracy, as with all models, can be perfected and because of this we work on the consolidation of an appropriate model for Mexico.

Social Dialogue

At INCIDE SOCIAL we believe that one of the indispensable mechanisms for learning about and resolving social problems is social dialogue because with the exchange of ideas and agreement among the different actors and sectors within society a collective endeavour can accomplished in the interests of society’s development.

Social dialogue requires that the state adopt an active role, even as it may not participate directly in the process. Its duty is to create a climate that fosters public participation, without fear of reprisals and to offer, among other things, the necessary legal and institutional frameworks.

The strengthening of civil society is an essential requirement for the advancement of democratic processes, especially given we live in a country with high levels of inequality and with limited support for spaces open to public participation.