The Civil Society Space of Organizations (Espacio OSC) has posted on social media: “We invite you to the presentation of #ProtegerLaDignidad [Protect Dignity] in Morelia, Michoacán. A campaign highlighting the work and challenges in protecting #humanrights defenders and journalists.”
The social media post notes that Claudia Ignacio Álvarez, an Indigenous Purépecha human rights defender with the Human Rights Solidarity Network (Red Solidaria DH), will participate in this forum. It also notes that Chad Galinier from the Peace Brigades International-Mexico Project will be the moderator.
Watch for updates on this forum that starts at 16:45 hrs in Michoacan (6:45 pm EDT).
Environmental defender Roberto Chávez
This week, Climate Rights International posted: “Authorities in Mexico should ensure a prompt, thorough, and impartial investigation into the killing of, Roberto Chávez an environmental defender in Michoacán state, and bring those responsible to justice. Chávez, a member of the Environmental Defense Committee of the El Zangarro community, was shot and killed on the night of April 12, 2026, in Etúcuaro, in the municipality of Madero. Chávez had previously received death threats, along with other local defenders, and was in the process of formally filing a complaint with the Michoacán State Prosecutor’s Office, according to public reports.”
And in their report on the death of Chávez, Infobae highlighted: “The states of Michoacán, Guerrero and Oaxaca they are among the most dangerous for environmental defenders, according to CEMDA [the Mexican Centre for Environmental Law]. In these territories, Violence is linked to disputes over natural resources and presence of Criminal groups that seek to control illegal economic activities.”
In their report on attacks against defenders that took place in 2024, CEMDA further notes: “As for the aggressions by state, Oaxaca (15), Chiapas (9), Michoacán (9), Puebla (9) and Veracruz (8) top the list.”
Noting the murder of Chávez, Change.org demands: “Effective implementation of the Protection Mechanism for Human Rights Defenders and Journalists. Mexico is one of the three deadliest countries in the world for environmental defenders according to Global Witness. As long as this mechanism remains paperwork and bureaucracy with no real capacity on the ground, nothing will change.”
Proteger la Dignidad
For more about the “Potager la Dignidad” campaign, click here.
That webpage includes 19 recommendations to strengthen the Protection Mechanism for human rights defenders and journalists at both the federal and state level.
One recommendation at the federal level is to “build a comprehensive public policy that takes into account the territorial needs and the diversity of the existing regulatory frameworks in the states.” And a recommendation at the state level is to “guarantee the active participation of the Advisory Councils and/or representatives of human rights defenders and journalists in the design, implementation, and evaluation of public policies and protection plans at the state level.”
We continue to follow this.
