Page 66 - Empowerment and Protection - Stories of Human Security

MEXICO
POPULATION
Achievements of the Dialogue Programme
It has contributed to building trust relationships and capacities for dialogue and collaboration between actors with diverse perspectives and agendas. It also engaged government officials and legislators in a productive dialogue at a time of great social and political polarisation. I think it was a huge success just because of this. Another
accomplishment was the establishment of an
leave the feelings of frustration and impotence behind and we took over the streets on our bikes to reclaim the public spaces. Those who saw us were amazed; they couldn’t believe that, given the violence and insecurity, a group of people could have fun, could be free of fear. Other groups
and collectives approached us and we became Chihuahua en Bicicleta sin Miedo [Chihuahua on bikes without fear].”
Chihuahua en Bicicleta members believe that
“organised crime feeds on fear and uncertainty =10f.r0o0m0t.h0e00people. We don’t want that, no one wants
122.3 MILLION IN 2013 (WORLD BANK 2014)
ffffffPOPULATION DISTRIBUTION BY AGE
27,9% 0-14
18,1% 15-24
40,4% 25-54
7% 55-64
6,6% 65+
(INDEX MUNDI 2014)
inclusive, coordinated, and effective coalition able to overcome differences and advocate for security and human rights issues.
Some concrete proposals became legislation or public policy; for example, the General Law for the Social Prevention of Violence and Crime, the General Law on the Rights of Victim, and the executive decree to include five citizens as permanent members of the National Council of Public Security.
that. We want to change perceptions, to create a sense of respect for one another. We are those that share public spaces, those who greet a total stranger out of courtesy and sympathy just because he or she rides a bike, and those that act on conviction and use the bicycle as an instrument of change. The authorities’ response was to close their eyes, but we have figured out that it is only us, the citizens, who are in charge to solve the situation.”
Reclaiming public spaces
In the city of La Paz, the biking organisation BCSicletos, “has helped the state attorney’s office to implement a project called ‘pedaling for crime prevention,’ which promoted the use of bikes to recover the public space. This year we are carrying out several other projects, which include outdoor movie projections, theater, and storytelling.” David, from Pueblo Bicicletero recounts, “Violence had a huge impact on groups promoting the use
of bikes as a means of transportation because
of the collective fear of violence. People opted
to reduce biking at night, especially in zones considered ‘hot’ because of violence and crime levels. There were also changes in the type of routes taken to avoid areas where shootings were frequent. At Pueblo Bicicletero we are trying to promote peace and non-violence through civic
peace, for conviviality.”
In la Laguna region, Ruedas del Desierto (Wheels of
the Desert) “started as a group of people whose
main objective was to reclaim the public spaces
THe cYcLinG acTiviSTS
The following stories are from citizen groups based in northern Mexico. They are united in their aim to transform their cities into inclusive communities by promoting the use of bicycles and sustainable transportation systems, respecting life, equality, inclusion, and conviviality.
emergence of the biking movement
During the escalation of violence, according to a
young activist in Monterrey, Nuevo León, “people
GLOBAL PEACE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
felt really vulnerable; many stopped going out, they participation. For us, the bike is an instrument for
didn’t want to leave their homes.” In Chihuahua,
INDEX 2014 INDEX 2013
another interviewee says, “Parks and public spaces
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that once were filled with kids were no longer
safe. There were a growing number of victims
of kidnappers. Violent car thefts were rampant;
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also, many restaurants were burned down. Cops
through night tours on bikes. These tours had a
colluded, and those who we once considered
lot of impact on the local media and they have
protectors were no longer of any help.”
contributed to overcome fear. Nowadays lots of people join us on each night tour. We are indeed reclaiming what’s ours: the public space, the streets, the parks.”
“Our movement began about four years ago in
(IEP 2014) (UNDP 2014)
this violent context. Despite it all, we decided to 66 SToRieS of HuMan SecuRiTY | MexiCo