Mexico City Rights Defender Alejandra Ancheita Selected for Martin Ennals Award FIDH | |
go to original April 23, 2014 |
Mexico City human rights lawyer challenges culture of death threats (MoralCourageChannel)
The Martin Ennals Award is selected by the International Human Rights Community and given to Human Rights Defenders who have shown deep commitment and face great personal risk. The aim of the award is to highlight their work and protect them through increased visibility.
Nominee Alejandra Ancheita is the Founder and Executive Director of ProDESC (The Project of Economic, Cultural, and Social Rights). For over 15 years she has worked with migrants, workers, and indigenous communities to protect their land and labor rights vis-à-vis transnational mining and energy companies.
These disputes have included violent attacks on those she is trying to protect. She is also one of the pioneers in seeking accountability for transnational companies in Mexican courts when local communities’ rights are not taken into account.
In Mexico, there is a clear pattern of attacks, threats, criminalization, and murders of human rights defenders. Alejandra and ProDESC have been subjected to surveillance, a defamation campaign in the national media, and a break in at their offices.
"This recognition calls attention to the increasing violence being suffered by human rights defenders in Mexico, particularly women defenders. I hope that it provides better conditions and increased security not just for me, but for all human rights defenders in my country," stated Ms Ancheita.
The Award will be presented on Oct. 7th at a ceremony hosted by the City of Geneva.
Alejandra Ancheita - Jury Quotes (Martin Ennals Award)
The Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders (MEA) is a unique collaboration among the world’s leading human rights organizations to give protection to human rights defenders worldwide.
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