Mexico's enormous and worsening poverty figures underscore that authorities have not made fighting it a top priority, Amnesty International charged Tuesday, AFP reports. The government this week reported that the number of Mexicans living in poverty rose from 52.8 million in 2010 to 53.3 million in 2012 -- representing almost half the population of 112 million. "The figures are hair-raising," said Daniel Zapico, the Mexico director for the London-based group. "And they only represent part of the vulnerable sector of the population," he said. That is because another 34 percent of the population is economically vulnerable -- near poverty though not technically classed as poor, government figures show. Mexico, Latin America's second largest economy after Brazil, is a partner with its giant neighbors to the north, the United States and Canada, in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
Mexico's enormous and worsening poverty figures underscore that authorities have not made fighting it a top priority, Amnesty International charged Tuesday, AFP reports.
The government this week reported that the number of Mexicans living in poverty rose from 52.8 million in 2010 to 53.3 million in 2012 -- representing almost half the population of 112 million.
"The figures are hair-raising," said Daniel Zapico, the Mexico director for the London-based group. "And they only represent part of the vulnerable sector of the population," he said.
That is because another 34 percent of the population is economically vulnerable -- near poverty though not technically classed as poor, government figures show.
Mexico, Latin America's second largest economy after Brazil, is a partner with its giant neighbors to the north, the United States and Canada, in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).