The Mexican Foreign Ministry has appointed Rigoberta Menchú Tum as Senior Adviser on the Rights of Women and Indigenous Peoples in Foreign Policy. The announcement was made through a formal press release. This new role was established in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme.
The appointment is designed to support the international goals of President Sheinbaum. The administration intends to place interculturalism and substantive equality at the heart of Mexico’s global activities. Menchú Tum is a Mexican citizen and an indigenous Maya K’iche’ woman with a long history of international advocacy. She received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1992 and the Prince of Asturias Award in 1998.
In her new capacity, Menchú Tum will collaborate with the Foreign Ministry to create a thorough policy for the protection of women and indigenous and Afro-Mexican communities. This work will follow the specific guidelines set by the National Institute of Indigenous Peoples and the Ministry of Women. Her previous experience includes serving as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and helping to secure the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2007.
The ministry stated that she will encourage coordination between various government departments. This will involve creating joint action plans to ensure that the perspectives of these communities are heard in international discussions. By aligning national policies with foreign initiatives, the government aims to give these groups a permanent place on the global agenda.
The Foreign Ministry’s decision highlights a focus on integrating domestic human rights priorities with its diplomatic efforts. Menchú Tum will act as a bridge between the various government agencies responsible for these sectors. Her involvement is expected to bring a higher level of visibility to Mexico’s commitment to social equality in multilateral forums.
