PBI-Canada extends a warm 25th anniversary greeting to the Cerezo Committee in Mexico

Photo: Francisco Cerezo Contreras (Comite Cerezo), Brent Patterson (PBI-Canada), Manuel Jabonero Prieto (PBI-Mexico).

The Cerezo Committee is commemorating its 25^th anniversary.

Their Facebook page notes: “We are an independent organization that defends and promotes human rights in Mexico since August 13, 2001.”

Their website adds: “We are a solidarity collective of volunteer work, dedicated to the defense of the Human Rights of victims of repression for political reasons in Mexico.”

The Comité Cerezo was founded after the arrest of three Cerezo brothers, Alejandro, Héctor and Antonio. They were sent to a maximum-security federal prison, suffering physical and psychological torture. Francisco, family members and allies formed the Comité Cerezo to fight for their liberation.

Five years ago, on their 20^th anniversary, the Cerezo Committee noted: “On 14 February 2002, Peace Brigades International (PBI) informed the comrades of the Committee for the release of brothers Cerezo Contreras and Pablo Alvarado Flores that they would accompany them in their activities to secure the freedom of their families.”

Alejandro Cerezo was released from prison on February 28, 2005, while his brothers Héctor and Antonio Cerezo were released on February 16, 2009.

In this 25^th anniversary video posted four days ago, you can see clips of PBI-Mexico accompanying the release of the two brothers.

Video still.

PBI-Canada coordinator Brent Patterson had the pleasure of meeting Francisco Cerezo Contreras alongside Manuel Jabonero Prieto from PBI-Mexico on February 26, 2026, in Mexico City. After that meeting, Francisco posted on social media: “We were visited by Brent Patterson from Peace Brigades International-Canada; we had a very enjoyable chat about the human rights situation in Mexico and about our organization, its origins and where we stand today. The event was hosted by Peace Brigades International – Mexico Project. Thank you both for everything.”

A warm greeting from Canada to the Cerezo Committee.

You can find out more about the work of the Cerezo Committee from their website and on Facebook and X.

Additional reading: Comité Cerezo México reflects on 20 years of PBI accompaniment (PBI-Canada, February 23, 2022).