Land rights for internally displaced people in Mexico
In early March 2026 Kadaster International, supported by the Dutch Embassy in Mexico, conducted a scoping project in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. This project focused on exploring how we can secure land tenure for internally displaced people (IDPs).
A complex landscape
Mexico faces internal displacement caused by land insecurity, land disputes and environmental stress. This particularly affects indigenous and rural communities. Oaxaca state has the largest share of indigenous population in Mexico. The state has developed a new legal framework strengthening the rights of IDPs. This framework has pushed land administration institutions to reflect on their role in addressing these challenges.
Exploring durable solutions for IDPs
In this project we explored how land information and land administration can better support the human rights of IDPs and reduce land‑related conflicts. We also researched how this can contribute to durable solutions for IDPs. Meetings, such as a multi‑stakeholder roundtable and a dedicated workshop, and a field visit gave us a good view of the current land tenure context in Mexico.
Challenges ahead
There are certainly challenges to be reckoned with. Mexico’s land information systems cover the entire country. Yet, the data is often fragmented, partially outdated and uneven in quality. This is particularly true for social land, meaning agricultural land that is communicably owned by (indigenous) community members. Limited data sharing mechanisms and overlapping mandates further complicate the picture.
Committing to improvement
Yet there are also many promising signs. The project team witnessed a strong commitment among stakeholders to build durable solutions for IDPs. They are motivated to improve their cooperation and build on existing initiatives, such as Mexico’s ongoing modernisation programme. Our project showed that, despite the complexity of Mexico’s land administration system, there is opportunity to improve the protection of housing, land and property rights for IDPs in Mexico.
More information
- For this project we partnered with
- Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
- UNHCR Mexico
- CADH Oaxaca
- Read more about our other projects on the page Our projects.