Forced displacement in Mexico: Human rights defender Diana Villalobos in London to raise awareness
PBI UK hosts advocacy tour focused on defending indigenous rights in Mexico, the deadliest country in the world for land and environmental rights defenders
From October 23 to 26, PBI UK will host a speaker tour with Diana Villalobos. Diana is a prominent Mexican human rights defender, and Director of local human rights organisation CONTEC which defends indigenous communities in the Sierra Tarahumara, Chihuahua.
Mexico is the deadliest country in the world for environmental activists, with 54 land rights defenders killed in 2021 according to Global Witness. Indigenous communities face violence from organised crime and business interests such as logging, mining and tourism which has led to deforestation and mass displacements. Members of CONTEC, including Diana, have faced harassment, intimidation, and smear campaigns for their legitimate work defending the rights of indigenous communities.
In London, Diana will hold meetings with the UK government, members of parliament, supportive NGOs and the legal community. The visit to London concludes Diana’s European advocacy tour where she has sought to raise awareness of the human rights situation in Mexico and galvanise support from the international community for the protection of indigenous communities affected by violence and forced displacement.
Read more about our work focused on land and environmental rights.
Join Diana, PBI and Amnesty International for the documentary screening of Cruz and a Q&A!
Peace Brigades International and Amnesty International will host a screening of Cruz, an award-winning Mexican documentary telling the story of Indigenous families who, displaced from their territories, are risking their lives to demand justice.
The film will be followed by a Q&A with Mexican human rights defender Diana Villalobos Diaz, whose organisation CONTEC works in the Sierra Tarahumara to defend indigenous, land and environmental rights.
When? October 25, 6pm (doors 5:30pm)
Where? Amnesty International UK (25 New Inn Yard, London EC2A 3EA)
More information and how to register here.
Briefing: Defending indigenous rights in Mexico
We have prepared a short briefing paper which highlights the situation for human rights defenders in Mexico and the work carried out by CONTEC. It contains recommendations for what can be done in Mexico and the UK to support defenders at risk like Diana who are on the frontline of this ecological and human rights crisis. Click the button above to download it.
