PBI-Mexico accompanied María Eugenia Gabriel Ruiz meets with UN Special Rapporteur on the right to water
This morning, PBI-Mexico posted: “Yesterday, Mª Eugenia de la @redsolidariaDH was able to speak with the Special Rapporteur Pedro Arrojo @SRWatSan about the challenges and impacts faced by the communities of Michoacán regarding access to water due to its indiscriminate use in monocultures and mining activities.”
María Eugenia Gabriel Ruiz, who is part of the Indigenous community of Comachuén, Michoacán, is a lawyer, land rights activist and member of the Human Rights Solidarity Network (Red Solidaria DH), an organization accompanied by PBI-Mexico.
PBI-Switzerland has also noted: “María Eugenia Gabriel Ruiz is part of the Red Solidaria de Derechos Humanos, which accompanies Indigenous and rural communities in the state of Michoacán in their processes of autonomy and self-determination, with an intersectional and feminist approach. A lawyer and social anthropologist, her work focuses on supporting Purhepecha women [Indigenous people centered in the northwestern region of Michoacán], security issues, and strengthening processes of self-determination.”
Threats
In February 2020, Animal Politico reported: “María Eugenia Gabriel Ruíz says that everything has already happened to her: she has been insulted in the street; They have pointed a gun at her from the open window of a van, and have tried to lynch her and burn her alive inside her own home. And all, he says, for two reasons. The first, because she is an Indigenous woman. And the second, for being the representative of the Communal Government Council of Comachuén, a Purépecha community.”
Mining impacts the Indigenous Nahua community of Santa María Ostula
Several years ago, the Chiapas Support Committee highlighted: “Mining companies have 40,000 hectares under concession within this territory. [Luxembourg-based] Ternium, just one steel manufacturing company, has a concession of 5,000 hectares within Ostula. As has been documented in parts of the country, there is a marriage of convenience between mining companies and organized crime, in which the cartels are in charge of the ‘security’ of businesses.”
Maria Eugenia in Europe
On September 13, PBI-Mexico also posted:
“María Eugenia, defense attorney and member of the @redsolidariaDH, presents the situation and challenges of defending the #HumanRIghts and communities in Michoacán within the framework of the Conference for Human Rights in Mexico organized by the @DMRKMexiko [the German Human Rights Coordination Mexico network] and @boell_latina [Team Latin America | Heinrich Böll Foundation].
Along with María Eugenia, colleagues from @CdhFrayba [Frayba Human Rights], @prensacimac [Communication and Information for Women] and @RedTDT [the National Network of Civil Human Rights Organizations “All Rights for All”] also presented their situation and analysis on the protection of human rights defenders and journalists in Mexico.”
We continue to follow the work of Maria Eugenia.
Further reading: PBI-Mexico accompanies Red Solidaria DH, recognizes the collective rights of the Indigenous Nahua peoples of Santa Maria Ostula (PBI-Canada, March 8, 2024).
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