From the volcanic highlands of Michoacán, Mexico, to the ancient tropical rainforests of West Papua, Indigenous leaders are standing as the final line of defence for their land and our shared planet. Claudia Ignacio Álvarez, a Purépecha defender, and Lia Yewen of the Miyah tribe face extreme personal risks, from criminalisation and direct threats to forced displacement, as they challenge the extractive industries and state-led projects that threaten their ancestral territories.
Supported by Peace Brigades International (PBI), these two courageous women travelled to the UK in December 2025 to amplify their urgent demands for justice, corporate accountability, and the fundamental right to protect their homes from destruction. Their stories are a testament to resilience in the face of immense pressure and a call for the international community to move from "concern" to concrete action.

Photo credit: The Ecologist Magazine [Left to Right] Human Rights Defenders, Claudia Ignacio Álvarez from Mexico and Lia Yewen from West Papua.

The Invisible Frontline of Michoacán

The Guardian of the Lake

In the western highlands of Mexico, the state of Michoacán is locked in a complex struggle between Indigenous sovereignty and the encroaching interests of criminal groups and industry. For Claudia Ignacio Álvarez, a Purépecha human rights defender from San Andrés Tziróndaro, this is not just a political battle - it is a fight for the survival of her home.

Her community, a vibrant tapestry of peasants, fishers, and musicians, has lived in harmony with the forests and Lake Pátzcuaro for generations. But today, that harmony is under siege.

The Price of Profit

The land is being scarred by two distinct but equally devastating forces:

Illegal Mining: In communities like San Juan Huitzontla, mining concessions were granted to corporations without prior consultation with local residents.
Agro-Industry: In Claudia’s own community, the explosion of berry and avocado farming has turned the land into a site of exploitation. Toxic agrochemicals now poison the soil and the lake, while water sources are systematically dispossessed of the people.

A Life in Exile

Defending the Earth in Mexico comes at a staggering cost. In 2024 alone, 32 defenders were killed in the country. Claudia herself now lives in forced displacement, unable to return to Michoacán except for high-risk meetings.

“The sense of insecurity is extremely severe... police officers have directly threatened me, and authorities continue to disqualify our work.” — **Claudia Ignacio Álvarez**

Claudia’s fight is fueled by the memory of those lost: her colleague **Eustacio Alcalá Díaz** and her niece **Roxana Valentín Cárdenas**, both murdered for their activism, and **José Gabriel Pelayo**, who has been missing for over a year.

Her Call to Action: Supported by Peace Brigades International, Claudia visited the UK in December 2025 to demand justice. She is calling on the international community to hold the Mexican State accountable and to investigate corporations profiting from these conflict zones.

West Papua - Protecting the Mother Forest

The Lungs of the Island

For the Indigenous peoples of West Papua, the tropical rainforest is not a "resource" - it is their mother. Lia Yewen, a defender from the Miyah tribe, describes a deep, sacred connection to the land that holds her people's history.

However, since West Papua became part of Indonesia in the 1960s, this connection has been under constant threat from extractive industries.

A Massive Scale of Destruction

The Indonesian government’s "National Strategy Project" claims to address food and energy needs, but for West Papuans, it represents a looming catastrophe.

In Merauke, two million hectares of forest are slated for destruction—an area more than ten times the size of London. Indigenous communities were never consulted; their land was taken without consent, threatening the very fabric of their culture.

**Militarisation and Silence**
The arrival of palm oil and mining companies has brought a heavy military presence. Schools and churches are being converted into military bases, forcing more than 100,000 people into internal displacement, a crisis the Indonesian government refuses to recognise.

“The internal displacement situation... is not recognised, which makes it very difficult for people to access life-saving assistance.” — **Lia Yewen**

Seeking a Path Forward: In December 2025, Lia brought these concerns to the UK. Her message is clear: the international community must move beyond "concern" to concrete action. She urges the UK to pressure Indonesia to abandon its security-based approach and establish a genuine framework for dialogue.

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