Defenders' stories

ISHR was honoured to meet and interview Leydy Araceli Pech Martin from the Colectivo de Comunidades Mayas de Hopelchen.

ISHR had the honour to interview Nayaali Ramirez Espinosa, a lawyer providing legal assistance to Mayan communities in the region of Holpelchén, in the State of Campeche in Mexico. She expresses her satisfaction with legal achievements such as the indigenous consultation in the region.

ISHR was honoured to interview Maiga Djingarey, coordinator of the NGO Femmes et Droits Humains who aims at empowering women and girls by educating them about their human rights in various domains.

ISHR was honoured to interview Romel Rubén Gonzalez Diaz from the Indigenous and Popular Regional Council of Xpujil. This organisation works in partnership with the Cooperativa Chac Lol, in the defense of the territory, training in municipal and human collective rights, generating sustainable development alternatives (agriculture, biocultural tourism, sustainable management of natural resources).

'Our countries are restricting migrants' rights, and there is always something we can do to demand full protection of people', says Mariana Zaragoza in her interview with ISHR. Mariana works in the immigration programme at the Ibero-American University of Mexico and she advocates for migrants and refugees' rights.

ISHR was honoured to meet and interview Flor Calfunao Paillalef, a Geneva-based indigenous peoples' rights defender and Apo Werken (i.e. "Ambassador") of the Mapuche people to the UN. 

Looking ahead to next month's UN Forum on Business and Human Rights, this month's defender profile features ISHR trainee and Thai lawyer Sor Polkla. Sor describes her work improving access to justice for those affected by development projects in rural Thailand, and explains how she plans to use the connections she made with ISHR and others at the Forum to expand her network and support her community on the ground.

ISHR was honoured to interview Xavier Martinez, technical director of CEMDA, the Mexican centre for environmental rights.

"Migration is not a crime. Defending the rights of migrant people should not be criminalised," said Azadi (pseudonym) in her interview with ISHR. Today, more than 68 million people around the world are refugees or internally displaced as a result of conflict or persecution. They seek a safer life and better future. "Migrant rights defenders want to show people on the move that another Europe exists: it's the Europe of the civil society that tries to welcome them. The Europe of solidarity", Azadi concluded. 

"Defending human rights is the work of us all," said Paula Wachter in her interview with ISHR. Paula is the Executive Director of Red por la Infancia and a former trainee of ISHR’s flagship annual Human Rights Defender Advocacy Programme … which kicks off its 2018 edition next week!

James Otto, an activist with the Sustainable Development Institute in Liberia, works tirelessly to advocate for human rights and sustainable development practices within his country, challenging the misperceptions of anti-development and striving to engage effectively with international human rights mechanisms.

Ana María Vidal Carrasco, Deputy Executive Secretary of the National Coordinator for Human Rights in Peru, advocates for the recognition and protection of human rights defenders, emphasising the need for legislative support and protection against criminalisation, especially for those in remote regions.