November, 2016. CITIZEN INITIATIVE TO AMEND ARTICLES 11, SECTION 3; 12, SECTION A, PARAGRAPH 1, AND ADD SECTIONS 1-BIS AND 1-TER;  30, PARAGRAPH A, SECOND PARAGRAPH, PARAGRAPH D, PARAGRAPH 1a) AND PARAGRAPH G, PARAGRAPH 2 and FIRST TRANSITORY OF THE DRAFT OF THE POLITICAL CONSTITUTION OF MEXICO CITY, PROPOSED BY THE HEAD OF STATE, CONCERNING CITIZEN PARTICIPATION.

February, 2014. Carta de Xicoténcatl. Promoting integration, this document proposes a series of reforms that could create conditions to form, develop, and consolidate Civil Society Organizations in Mexico today.

To date, more than 100 civil society organizations, members of the Technical Advisory Council and the Collaboration Mechanism, Advisory Councils for Sustainable Development and representatives of the four Ministries of the Development Commission and members of the Mexican Senate have signed it.

October, 2016. It was submitted along with the First Initiative to Harmonize the Regulatory Framework for CSOs. Introduced as a multi-party initiative — with 12 senators from the PAN, PRI, and PRD parties, as well as an independent party singing it — the project was elaborated by a diverse CSO group and other academics.

Proposing, giving opinions, and issuing recommendations regarding the application and compliance with this Law, the Council is a honorary advisory and consultative body. Each year, the Council concurs with the Commission to carry out a joint evaluation of the promotion policies and actions carried out by Federal Public Administration agencies and entities.

In order to fulfill its purpose, the Council has the following functions:

• To analyze Mexican policies related to the promotion of the activities mentioned in Article 5 of the Law;
• To promote the participation of citizens and organizations in the monitoring, operation, and evaluation of the aforementioned policies of the Mexican State;
• To incorporate commissions and working groups to exercise their respective functions;
• To suggest administrative and operative measures that may fulfill the objectives and efficiently develop the policy functions;
• To assist in the application of the Law;
• To issue recommendations to determine infractions and their corresponding sanctions, under the terms of the Law, and
• To issue the Operating Manual to regulate its organization and functioning.

The Council is composed as follows:

• 1 Public Officer;
  • 9 Representatives of Civil Society Organizations;
  • 4 Representatives of the Academic, Professional, Scientific, and Cultural Sectors;
  • 2 Representatives of the Mexican Legislative Branch, one for each House, and
  • 1 Executive Secretary.

More Information

http://www.paraosc.segob.gob.mx
/es/PARAOSC/Consejo_Tecnico_Consultivo

Aiming to achieve joint participation of all sectors, the Council is a consultative body of the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat, in Spanish). Additionally, it fosters the protection, conservation, and restoration of ecosystems, natural resources, and environmental goods and services — enhancing their sustainable use and development.

Democratically elected representatives of various sectors of society and representatives of the Executive Branch are involved in this body.

The CCNDS (National Advisory Council for Sustainable Development) consists of:

• 1 President — the Head of Semarnat — who may be substituted by any public officer in one of the Undersecretariats.
• 1 Technical Secretary, appointed by the President of the Council.
• 1 Technical Ministry of the National Advisory Committee, who will correspond to the Head of the International Affairs Coordinating Unit.
• 6 Presidents of the Regional Advisory Councils (full members) or the six respective Technical Secretaries (substitutes).
• 1 representative elected among the members of each of the Core Councils or their substitutes.
• 13 board members invited directly by the Head of Semarnat, according to the following distribution:
  • 7 environment and natural resources specialists, no substitutes.
  • 3 experts on issues arising from the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation, no substitutes.
  • 1 guest from the Mexican Youth Institute
  • 1 guest from the Mexican Commission for the Development of Indigenous Peoples
  • 1 guest from the Mexican Institute of Women

More Information

http://consejos.semarnat.gob.mx/

Jointly promoting discussions and negotiation of citizen proposals with decision-makers of the three governmental branches (Executive, Legislative,  Judicial), the Mechanism aims to establish meeting and discussion grounds among civil society organizations and the Governance Ministry to influence public issues.

• The mechanism seeks to become an instrument for effective and efficient liaison between civil society organizations and the federal government.
• This instrument will make documentation, follow-ups, reports, and evaluation of the issues raised by the organizations possible.

More Information

http://www.paraosc.segob.gob.mx
/es/PARAOSC/Mecanismos_de_Dialogo

The Charter of Xicoténcatl is a product of the Seminar-Workshop 10 years of the Promotion Law: The new role of Civil Society Organizations in development and participation, held at the Former Senate Headquarters at Xicoténcatl #9, Centro Histórico Ciudad de México, el February 26, 2014.

Organized by the Mexican Crisis Observatory, the Seminar-Workshop has the support of Senator Marcela Torres Peimbert, Secretary of the Anti-Corruption and Citizen Participation Commission. Its main objective is:

To propose a legislative agenda that could create conditions for the formation, development, and consolidation of Civil Society Organizations in modern Mexico from an integral perspective of promotion.

More than 100 civil society organizations, members of the Technical Advisory Council and the Collaboration Mechanism, Advisory Councils for Sustainable Development and representatives of the four Ministries of the Development Commission and members of the Mexican Senate participated in the Seminar — creating an open-discussion environment for proposals and innovation.

In addition to the participants in the event, civil society organizations, foundations, Mexican senators, and the general public have also signed the charter.

With this Charter, we seek to create and maintain organized civil society at the center of the debate as a subject of public interest.