An evening of solidarity and environmental justice with two Indigenous women human rights defenders

PBI UK was deeply honoured to welcome two extraordinary Indigenous women human rights defenders to London on Thursday, 4 December 2025, for our flagship public event, An Evening with Women Defending Land & the Environment at LUSH Studio Soho. The evening brought together supporters, journalists, legal professionals and NGOs to hear directly from defenders whose voices are too often marginalised or silenced.

Chaired by Tracy McVeigh, editor of Guardian Global Development, the event centred on an in-depth conversation with Claudia Ignacio Álvarez, a Purépecha feminist and environmental defender from Michoacán, Mexico, and a defender from West Papua, Indonesia (identity not revealed for security purposes). Both women, each affected by extractive industries, agribusiness, militarisation and systemic impunity, shared the urgent realities of defending land, water, culture and community.

Opening the conversation

The evening began with remarks from Ben Leather, Director of PBI UK, who reflected on the courage of grassroots activists resisting environmental destruction and corporate abuse. He underlined that solidarity is core to PBI’s identity, rooted in a model that combines local presence with international networks to help keep defenders safe.

"We have seen the strength and resilience that community leaders and survivors of abuses can harness from knowing that they are not alone and that, around the world, people are willing to take action to safeguard them and champion their causes," he said, noting that PBI’s impact is only possible through the generosity and solidarity of its supporters.

Ben Leather, Director, PBI UK

Leather also highlighted that solidarity will underpin PBI’s brand new Global Strategic Plan, which will build new protection networks, strengthen knowledge exchange between defenders across borders, respond to demand by establishing teams in new regions, and expand capacity-building tools so that more defenders can keep themselves safe and strong.

A short film followed, introducing PBI’s global model of protective accompaniment, which enables defenders to continue their work despite severe risks.

Defending land as defending identity

In conversation with Tracy McVeigh, both speakers described how territory sustains every aspect of community life for Indigenous peoples.

The West Papuan defender spoke about the profound ties between West Papuan identity and the land.

"In West Papua, we have strong relationships with each other; we are one people, one soul. All West Papuans have experienced discrimination and racism, and now our forest land is being destroyed. Two million hectares are gone, more than twelve times the size of London. I am here to share this with you, and I want you to speak to your government, which has strong ties to Indonesia. We need you to stand with us."

She described how documenting stories, mapping customary territories and resisting militarised land grabbing are vital acts of cultural survival.

Claudia reflected on defending territory in Michoacán, where speaking out can be dangerous, especially for Indigenous women.

"Purépecha women are beaten if they speak out of turn."

She shared how defenders are targeted for raising their voices.

"Police come in anti-raid gear to intimidate me, to stop me from speaking or acting. We are followed everywhere. Heavily armed officers stand outside our homes, surveilling us. The police have even threatened to kill me. We live in fear, and the only way to protect our Purépecha way of life is to defend our rights and speak out against these threats."

Claudia Ignacio Álvarez, a Purépecha feminist and environmental defender from Michoacán, Mexico.

Courage, ancestry and speaking out together

Despite the violence and intimidation they face, both women described the deep sources of strength behind their activism.

Claudia shared, "I am here today sharing my story. We have decided to tell our stories and show we are not alone. We get our strength from our ancestors and from the land we have inherited for centuries."

The West Papuan defender emphasised that solidarity, both within West Papua and internationally, is essential to resisting the destruction of their territories and safeguarding community futures.

Corporate power, militarisation and global responsibility

The defenders explained that threats to their lives and territories are not isolated incidents but symptoms of broader systems: extractive projects, agribusiness, militarised policing, discriminatory state policies and impunity.

Both highlighted that global supply chains connect their struggles to the UK and urged the audience to consider the impact of investment, consumption and political engagement.

Solidarity as protection

A powerful theme running through the evening was the protective force of international attention. Visibility can deter attacks, strengthen community resilience and provide moral support when local avenues fail. Both defenders noted that events like this, where their stories are heard and taken seriously, form part of the safety net that allows them to continue their work.

Carrying the work forward

Closing the formal programme, PBI UK’s Chair Andrew Anderson invited guests to continue supporting PBI’s work through campaigns, solidarity stalls and initiatives such as the Big Give. He emphasised that welcoming defenders to London is both a privilege and a responsibility, one that must translate into action, advocacy and sustained solidarity.