Address of Mexico during the Forum on Minority Issues Sixth Session Geneva, 26-27 November 2013 Thank you Ms Chair, Mexico congratulates you on your appointment as Chair of the Forum, and thanks the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the independent expert on minorities, and you for organising the Sixth Session of the Forum on Minority Issues that on this occasion focuses on the topic ‘Beyond freedom of religion or belief: guaranteeing the right of religions minorities’. Madame President, For 200 years, Mexico has recognised the freedom of worship. Despite this fact, between 1926 and 1929 we experienced a religious war known as Cristiada or The Cristero War. During this confrontation between the government and Catholics, nearly 250 thousand people lost their lives, which led to the lack of legal recognition of the Catholic Church or any other religious congregation during nearly all of the 20th century . Only in 1992, as a consequence of the promulgation of the Law of Religious Associations and Public Worship and their Regulation, was the existence of different religious groups and congregations recognised throughout the country. Mexico has ratified the principal international instruments guaranteeing the protection of ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities. Among them the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in its Article 27, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child in its Article 30. Moreover, we endorsed the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. Mexico is a secular State with a clear separation between religious associations and the state. The State guarantees every individual the right to have or to adopt any religious belief they please, and to practice, individually or collectively, acts of worship or suitable rites. Equally, the liberty to change religion or not to profess any belief is guaranteed. Moreover, the Constitution guarantees that no one shall be subject to discrimination, coercion or hostility because of their religious beliefs. Article 24 of the Political Constitution of Mexico states that each individual is free in professing a chosen religious belief, and to participate in its respective ceremonies, services and acts of worship, provided they do not constitute a crime or an offence against the law. In order to harmonise our legislation with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the above mentioned Article was reformed on 19 of July. It is now guaranteed to participate, individually or collectively, in public as well as in private, in ceremonies, services and acts of worship unless it constitutes an offence