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PBI-Mexico to accompany “Proteger la Dignidad” campaign fórum in Morelia, Michoacán to strengthen Protection Mechanism

By
Brent Patterson
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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.

PBI-Canada highlights the dangers faced by human rights defenders from arms exports promoted at the CANSEC arms show in Ottawa

By
Brent Patterson
-

Photo: The protest sign outside CANSEC says: “Canada, don’t sell weapons to Peru.” Since 2012, Global Witness has documented 62 killings and disappearances of land and environmental defenders in Peru.

Peace Brigades International-Canada is highlighting the increased risks faced by human rights defenders from Canadian arms exports to countries where the State has been implicated in violence, repression and human rights violations.

PBI-Canada is doing so in the lead-up to the CANSEC “defence, security & emerging technology event” that will take place on May 27-28 in Ottawa.

The countries at CANSEC

The organizer of CANSEC, the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI), notes that their event attracts “60+ International delegations” and “300 Exhibiting Companies”.

Amnesty International has cautioned: “[In 2024-2025] Canada continued to export arms and military equipment to countries despite lack of accountability for past violations and substantial risks that they could be used in serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.”

Unlike the British government, the Canadian government does not make public the list of countries that come to CANSEC to shop for weapons and technology.

The UK Department for Business & Trade has posted that 75 countries, plus NATO and the European Union, were invited to the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) trade exhibition in September 2025. The countries that attended included Canada, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, India, Kenya, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Turkey, UAE and USA.

Photo: Canada at DSEI in London, UK.

It is known however from past reports (from CADSI in 2015 and the Canadian Commercial Corporation in 2014) and various social media posts that delegations from Argentina, Bahrain, Chile, Colombia, Equatorial Guinea, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Kuwait, Mexico, Oman, Peru, the Philippines, Qatar, United States, and the United Arab Emirates have all attended CANSEC in previous years.

Peru

In April 2025, Amnesty International noted that in Peru: “Investigations continued into deaths during protests in 2022 and 2023 [where security forces responded to protests with excessive use of force, especially in regions with largely Indigenous populations]. …Human rights defenders remained at risk, particularly Indigenous leaders, and protection mechanisms were lacking.”

Still from CADSI video promoting CANSEC 2023.

Indonesia

Global Witness has documented that 25 land and environmental defenders have been killed in Indonesia between 2012 and 2024. At least 11 of those defenders were killed by State actors (Armed Forces, Police, Government officials).

According to Government of Canada figures from annual reports on exports, during the period of 2012 to 2024, Canada exported almost $45 billion of so-called “military goods and technology” to Indonesia.

Philippines

Global Witness has also documented that 17 land and environmental defenders were killed in the Philippines in 2023 and that 298 were killed between 2012 to 2023.

During the 2016-2022 presidency of Rodrigo Duterte, who is now detained under an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for crimes against humanity, Canada exported about $7 million in military goods to the Philippines.

Photo: Philippines delegation at CANSEC, June 2017.

The companies at CANSEC

The Ottawa-based CADSI also no longer makes public on its website the list of exhibitors at CANSEC, but its member groups include the world’s largest and most profitable weapons companies, notably Lockheed Martin (with USD $64 billion in arms revenue in 2024), RTX Corporation ($43 billion), Northrop Grumman ($37 billion), BAE Systems ($33 billion), and General Dynamics ($33 billion).

Lockheed Martin, RTX, Northrop Grumman, BAE and General Dynamics have all been implicated in research done by the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) as “companies profiting from the Gaza genocide”.

General Dynamics

On May 28, 2025, the Quebec-based company General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems-Canada posted on LinkedIn: “It’s a start to CANSEC 2025! Join us at booth #1203 to discover our products! #CANSEC2025”

In their photos, their “Large Caliber Ammunition Propelling Charges For 155mm Artillery Projectiles” display can be seen.

The American Friends Service Committee has documented: “General Dynamics is also the only company in the U.S. that makes 155mm caliber artillery shells, which have been used extensively to attack Gaza. One source reported that, by Nov. 25, one Israeli brigade fired some 10,000 such shells using BAE’s M109 howitzer.”

The impacts on human rights defenders

Palestinian human rights defenders

The Dublin-based organization Front Line Defenders (the International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders) has documented the killing of at least 31 Palestinian human rights defenders in 2023 and 2024.

Photo from Front Line Defenders photo of three HRDs/health care workers killed when the Al-Awda hospital was shelled by the Israeli military artillery.

Fatma Hassouna

On April 16, 2025, 24-year-old Palestinian photographer Fatma Hassouna was killed in a targeted Israeli airstrike on her home in Gaza.

In the documentary “Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk”, Fatima tells Iranian filmmaker Sepideh Farsi that she could hear an Apache helicopter near her home in Gaza. Later Fatma told Farsi that F-16s had bombed Gaza all night.

Boeing, the maker of Apache helicopters, and Lockheed Martin, the maker of F-16 fighter jets, are exhibitors at CANSEC.

Video still: Fatma Hassouna.

In defence of human rights defenders

Mary Lawlor, the United Special Rapporteur for human rights defenders has written: “There exist no moral arguments that can justify the continued sale of weapons to Israel by states that respect the principle of the universality of human rights.”

Lawlor adds: “Palestinian human rights defenders have emphasized to me the importance of a ban being placed on such sales, given that Israel has demonstrated time and again that it will use such weapons indiscriminately against Palestinians.”

Elbit Systems Ltd., the largest Israeli weapons company, has been an exhibitor at CANSEC. It is believed that the International Defense Cooperation Directorate of the Israeli Ministry of Defense (SIBAT) is also an exhibitor.

Photo by UN of Mary Lawlor.

HRDs in the United States

In early January 2026 after an ICE agent killed Renee Good, UN Special Rapporteur Lawlor also posted: “Shocking news out of Minnesota. On my recent trip there I met with numerous human rights defenders who told me of the violence they faced from law enforcement officers, and the legacy of law enforcement killings in the city. In light of the reports that the victim was in the area to document potential human rights violations by ICE agents, I’ll be closely examining this incident, in line with my Mandate.”

Roshel

Brampton-based Roshel is also an exhibitor and sponsor of CANSEC.

In February 2026, Greenpeace Canada highlighted in a press release that they had “unveiled a banner saying ‘No Canadian Arms for ICE’ at the Brampton headquarters of the Canadian company that is building armoured vehicles for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).”

Photo: Greenpeace Canada at Roshel in Brampton.

At that time, Keith Stewart, Senior Energy Strategist with Greenpeace Canada, commented: “Canada cannot claim to defend human rights while exporting armoured vehicles that will be used to terrorize communities. These exports directly contradict Canada’s obligations under the Arms Trade Treaty, which prohibits approving export permits where there is a substantial risk of human rights violations.”

Speakers at CANSEC, May 27-28

Image from CADSI.

David McGuinty, Melanie Joly

This week it was announced that Defence Minister David McGuinty and Industry Minister Melanie Joly will be keynote speakers at CANSEC this year.

In November 2025, CBC News reported: “Budget 2025 earmarks $81.8 billion for defence over five years, roughly $72 billion of which is new money.” In June 2025, the Carney government announced its intention to increase military spending to 5 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which could mean an increase from the current $33 billion a year to $150 billion a year by 2035.

On February 17 of this year, Prime Minister Mark Carney promised to “increase our defence exports by 50%” and “appoint new trade commissioners in the United Kingdom and key European Union markets to support Canadian business abroad and ramp up Canada’s presence at major global defence and aerospace trade shows.”

The Canadian Commercial Corporation

In May 2018, Ottawa Citizen reporter David Pugliese reported: “The Ottawa-based CCC [Canadian Commercial Corporation], which helps Canadian exporters get contracts with foreign governments acknowledges  it conducts no follow-up to ensure exported Canadian-built equipment isn’t being used to abuse human rights.”

The Canadian Commercial Corporation is a Crown corporation (government-owned enterprise) overseen by Minister Joly and McGuinty’s cabinet colleague Dominic LeBlanc, the Minister of International Trade.

Photo: The CCC at CANSEC 2025.

Jake Sullivan, Sir Richard Moore

The other keynote speakers at CANSEC this year will be former US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and former head of MI6, the United Kingdom’s foreign intelligence agency, Sir Richard Moore.

On October 7, 2025, the Associated Press reported that the U.S. provided $17.9 billion in military assistance to Israel in 2023-24 (when Sullivan was advising the Biden administration). In April 2025, Sullivan denied that genocide is being committed against the Palestinian people.

Mark Curtis, the co-director of Declassified UK and an analyst of UK foreign policy, has commented that MI6, under Moore’s leadership, provided “military and intelligence support for Israel’s Gaza genocide.”

Communities resist CANSEC

A wide range of social movements, peace groups, faith communities, non-governmental organizations, and individuals will be mobilizing to protest the CANSEC arms show on Wednesday May 27 and Thursday May 28.

We will continue to follow this.

Photo by Koozma J. Tarasoff.

Photo from World Beyond War.

Instagram page for the Shut Down CANSEC campaign.

Mexico’s security cabinet to review allegations Canadian company may have allowed “armed individuals” to intimidate workers seeking independent union

By
Brent Patterson
-

Video still: Sindicato Minero “Los Mineros” union members protest at the Embassy of Canada in Mexico City, April 2026.

The Government of Mexico is reportedly reviewing allegations that Orla Mining, the Vancouver-based company that operates the Camino Rojo gold mine in Mazapil, Zacatecas, Mexico, may have allowed the Operativa Flechas faction of the Sinaloa cartel violate the labour rights of Mexican workers seeking to unionize this Canadian owned mine through the independent National Union of Workers for Mining, Metalworking and Similar Workers (Mineros Union) in early 2024.

CBC News reports: “Mexico’s security cabinet is reviewing allegations a prominent organized crime group was involved in strong-arming workers at a Canadian-owned gold mine so they would vote for its management’s preferred union, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Tuesday [April 14].”

The article adds: “[A] three-member CUSMA rapid response labour panel concluded that management at the Camino Rojo mine denied workers their labour rights. …The U.S. alleges in its publicly available filings that an individual, nicknamed ‘el Mocho’ and ‘el Paul’, who was part of the Sinaloa cartel faction Operativa Flechas, was hired on contract by the Camino Rojo mine. …El Paul allegedly ‘attended and interrupted’ Mineros Union meetings with ‘armed individuals’, according to the filings.”

ContraRéplica has previously reported: “The panel documented that the company had hired a drug trafficker to disrupt union meetings with armed individuals, issue death threats, and pressure employees to leave their organization and join a union affiliated with the company.”

In October 2024, members of the Mineros Union held a protest about this situation in front of the Embassy of Canada in Mexico City.

At that time, La Jornada reported: “The protesters pointed out that a remedy is required based on Conventions 87 and 98 of the International Labor Organization on freedom of association and the right of association for the defense of their labor rights. They also demand that the resolution, within the framework of the trade agreement, include the protection and guarantee of security for the integrity of union leaders.”

And Reforma reported: “Outside the embassy, the protesters demanded that the company give the miners the freedom to choose the union of their choice. ‘Government of Canada, we ask for your intervention, so that freedom of association is respected,’ stressed the dissidents of section 335 of the mining union.”

The Global Affairs Canada Voices at Risk: Canada’s Guidelines on Supporting Human Rights Defenders notes: “HRDs sometimes focus on specific categories of rights or the rights of specific persons. They may … focus on specific themes such as labour rights.” The voluntary guidelines suggest “missions can play a significant role to protect” human rights defenders by “supporting investigative processes into alleged acts of intimidation, threats, violence and other abuses…”

CBC News reports that Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) said in an emailed statement that the federal government was “deeply concerned about these allegations” and it was reviewing the CUSMA labour panel’s findings. Their statement says: “Canada takes the matter very seriously and expects all Canadian companies operating abroad to abide by all relevant laws.”

The review announced by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum comes in the lead-up to Canada-Mexico Dialogue on Human Rights and Multilateral Affairs that is expected to take place in late-May in Ottawa.

We continue to follow this.

Additional reading

–USMCA panel: Canadian company used organized crime to violate the labour rights of mine workers in Mexico (April 10, 2026)

–PBI-Canada seeks strengthened protection for human rights defenders who advocate for labour rights, the right of association (March 12, 2026).

PBI-Colombia accompanies the CSPP, CAJAR and CJL in Argentina for court hearing against former president on extrajudicial executions

By
Brent Patterson
-

Photo by MOVICE.

The Peace Brigades International-Colombia Project is accompanying the Committee of Solidarity with Political Prisoners (CSPP), the José Alvear Restrepo Lawyers’ Collective (CAJAR) and the Corporation for Judicial Freedom (CJL) in Buenos Aires, Argentina for a significant legal intervention seeking justice.

The CAJAR website notes: “Colombian human rights defenders (CSPP, Cajar and CJL) appeared on April 14 before Chamber I of the Federal Criminal and Correctional Chamber of Argentina, in the framework of the lawsuit filed in 2023 against former President Álvaro Uribe Vélez for cases of extrajudicial executions.”

Diario del Norte reports: “The plaintiff organizations maintain that this mechanism seeks to avoid impunity in international crimes, considering that in Colombia there are no effective criminal proceedings against the former president for these events, which according to the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) involve thousands of victims.”

El Pais also explains: “Eleven relatives of victims and human rights organizations have filed a lawsuit to ask the Argentine justice system to investigate the criminal responsibility of the former president in the murders of civilians during his term. They did so under the principle of universal jurisdiction, which allows States to investigate, prosecute and punish perpetrators of serious crimes against human rights regardless of the nationality of the victims or the perpetrator, if the countries where the crimes are committed do not investigate them.”

The article adds: “Lawyer Máximo Castex said that the hearing allowed the judges to see the faces, the families and the damage suffered by the victims.”

And Minuto 60 notes: “Castex, an Argentine lawyer who represents the interests of the families of the victims, [commented about the hearing] ‘We got a good impression in the sense that we were able to deal with all the arguments we raised to request that the resolution of the archives be revoked by the Chamber and above all because the Chamber allowed the participation of the victims.’”

El Heraldo further reports: “The judges will have to determine whether to continue with the legal process… The entities promoting the lawsuit insist that this international mechanism is key to avoiding impunity in crimes considered international crimes, when the judicial systems of origin do not offer effective responses.”

In their update on social media, the Movement of Victims of State Crimes (MOVICE) posted: “At the hearing, victims requested the Federal Chamber of Argentina to reopen investigation against Alvaro Uribe Vélez for extrajudicial executions. It is expected that in the coming days the court will adopt a decision that, hopefully, will be favorable to the call of the families and their representatives.”

We continue to follow this.

Additional reading: PBI-Canada following CAJAR, CSPP and CJL complaint in Argentina court on extra-judicial killings in Colombia (April 14, 2026).

PBI-Canada observes call from Chief Na’Moks, Gwii Lok’im Gibuu and Katisha Paul against EDC financing of megaprojects

By
Brent Patterson
-

Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chief Na’Moks, Gitxsan hereditary leader Gwii Lok’im Gibuu (Jesse Stoeppler) from the Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition and Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) Women’s Representative Katisha Paul spoke this afternoon outside Export Development Canada (EDC) in Ottawa to reject public dollars being spent on the proposed Ksi Lisims LNG terminal and LNG Canada Phase 2 expansion.

The megaprojects

The Ksi Lisims LNG terminal would be fed by the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) pipeline that would be built on Gitanyow and Gitxsan territories. The project would also be powered by the North Coast Transmission Line. Construction on the transmission line megaproject is expected to begin this year.

LNG Canada Phase 2 would involve the construction of additional compressor stations on Wet’suwet’en territory to increase the flow of the existing TC Energy Coastal GasLink fracked gas pipeline.

EDC financing

Export Development Canada is a Crown corporation that provides loans, secures financing, and more.

In May 2020, the Toronto Star reported: “[Export Development Canada] will lend up to $500 million to build the Coastal GasLink, a natural gas pipeline that sparked a national protest movement and reckoning over the Liberal administration’s commitment to Indigenous reconciliation.”

Then in July 2023, the National Observer reported: “According to Export Development Canada … Coastal Gaslink was [also] given between $100 million and $200 million worth of project financing to help it export gas.”

Carney recommends fast-tracking

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced in September 2025 that he had recommended LNG Canada Phase 2 to the Major Projects Office (MPO) for fast-tracking. In November 2025 Carney added Ksi Lisims to his list of major projects of “national interest” to be considered for fast-tracking by the Major Projects Office.

In January 2026, The Globe and Mail reported that “Ksi Lisims is expected to make a final investment decision in 2026” while “industry analysts expect LNG Canada to make a final investment decision by the end of 2026 on whether to proceed with Phase 2.”

Indigenous opposition

Wet’suwet’en and Gitxsan leaders have been clear in their opposition to the construction of compressor stations on their territory that would come with the LNG Canada Phase 2 expansion. The Wet’suwet’en experienced militarized raids by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Community-Industry Response Group (C-IRG) in January 2019, February 2020 and November 2021.

The Gitanyow have also been firm in their opposition to the PRGT pipeline being built on their lands to feed the Ksi Lisims LNG terminal.

In November 2025, Gitanyow Hereditary Chief Watahayetsxw (Deborah Good) vowed to establish another blockade after Prime Minister Carney announced his support for the Ksi Lisims LNG export terminal.

Accompaniment

Peace Brigades International-Canada visited Wet’suwet’en, Gitxsan and Gitanyow territories in November 2021, June 2025 and October 2025.

We remain attentive to the final investment decisions on LNG Canada Phase 2 and Ksi Lisims, as well as construction of the PRGT pipeline and the North Coast Transmission Line, and the safety of the Indigenous land and environmental defenders exercising their rights to oppose these megaprojects on their territories.

We also remain ready to return to the territories if the safety of land and environmental defenders is put at risk by the deployment of the RCMP Critical Response Unit-British Columbia (CRU-BC).

PBI-Canada following CAJAR, CSPP and CJL complaint in Argentina court on extra-judicial killings in Colombia

By
Brent Patterson
-

Today there will be a “plantón” (sit-in, encampment, protest) in Buenos Aires, Argentina at 11 am local time and a court hearing at 4 pm local time that relates to the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) finding in 2021 that at least 6,402 people were murdered by the country’s armed forces and falsely declared combat kills, “false positives”, between 2002 and 2008 during the presidency of Álvaro Uribe Vélez.

This statement on the José Alvear Restrepo Lawyers’ Collective (CAJAR) website explains: “In the framework of the filing of the complaint, in application of the principle of universal jurisdiction, against Álvaro Uribe Vélez, for the commission of extrajudicial executions during his government, Chamber II of the Argentine Federal Criminal and Correctional Chamber has summoned a hearing for [Tuesday] April 14.”

It adds: “The complaint, filed in Argentina in November 2023 by 11 victims and three Colombian human rights organizations (CSPP, Cajar and CJL), substantiates the need to urge universal jurisdiction in the face of the persistent impunity in Colombia with respect to investigations and sanctions aimed at former presidents and those most responsible for extrajudicial executions, as they constitute international crimes.”

Those three organizations: CAJAR, the Committee of Solidarity with Political Prisoners (CSPP) and the Corporation for Judicial Freedom (CJL) are accompanied by Peace Brigades International.

Infobae further reports: “Three years after an international lawsuit was filed in Argentina against former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe Vélez for extrajudicial executions during his term, the Federal Criminal and Correctional Chamber of that country set a date for a hearing. …The objective is for the Argentine justice system to investigate the possible responsibility of the former president in thousands of extrajudicial executions that occurred between 2002 and 2008 in Colombia, according to figures from the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP).”

And Colombia.com notes: “Tuesday, April 14, former President Álvaro Uribe will appear before an Argentine court, however, it is not yet known if the president will appear and if not, what are the arguments that his lawyers will put forward for the decision.”

The statement on the CAJAR website concludes: “In light of the above, it is essential to mobilise the efforts of citizens, civil society, solidarity groups, the media and advocacy organisations to urge the Argentine justice system, in accordance with the principle of universal jurisdiction, to ensure the criminal case proceeds, by opening the relevant investigation, in an act of shared responsibility with the families of the 6,402 victims of extrajudicial executions, who, after decades of waiting and resistance, continue to take action and seek recognition and punishment on the premise that crimes against humanity and war crimes must know no borders when it comes to their prosecution. We thank you for reading this, for your interest, and for your willingness to address this international issue, which involves cross-border ties of solidarity and justice.”

We are following this.

Brent Cotter appointed interim CRCC chairperson; will the systemic investigation of the RCMP C-IRG be released soon?

By
Brent Patterson
-

Photo: Brent Cotter.

On April 13, a Public Safety Canada news release noted: “Today, the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety, announced that the Honourable Brent Cotter has been appointed as the interim Chairperson of the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission (CRCC) for a term of six months effective April 15, 2026.”

It adds: “Roxanne M. Gagné has been appointed the Vice-Chairperson for a term of five years, effective April 20, 2026.”

The Toronto Star also notes: “Cotter, a former dean of the University of Saskatchewan’s law school, was a senator from 2020 to 2024, when he reached the upper chamber’s mandatory retirement age. …Gagné has served as director of Manitoba’s Independent Investigations Unit, a civilian oversight agency that probes incidents involving police and members of the public.”

One week ago, CBC News reported: “In March 2023, CRCC announced it would undertake a systemic investigation into the governance, structure and practices of the [Royal Canadian Mounted Police Community-Industry Response Group/ RCMP C-IRG] unit. [That report] is finished but can’t be finalized because the RCMP’s oversight body has been without a chairperson for more than a year.”

Peace Brigades International-Canada has been following the CRCC investigation of the C-IRG, now renamed the Critical Response Unit-British Columbia/ CRU-BC, for the past three years. Today we asked the CRCC if with these appointments the investigation into the C-IRG could be released within the six month term of the new CRCC chairperson (before October 15, 2026).

Further reading: CRCC systemic investigation into the RCMP C-IRG now completed, but unreleased due to “absence of a decision-maker” (March 19, 2026).

PBI-Honduras accompanies National Union of Rural Workers (CNTC) at preliminary court hearing for ‘7 de Febrero’ campesina families

By
Brent Patterson
-

The Peace Brigades International-Honduras Project has posted on social media:

“On April 10, PBI Honduras attended the preliminary hearing in Comayagua for 15 people facing criminal charges of trespass, with legal representation provided by Justice for the People Law Firm.

This hearing took place following the eviction of peasant families from the ‘7 de Febrero’ community, a member of the National Union of Rural Workers (CNTC), an organization that PBI has been accompanying since 2018.

At PBI, we express our concern for the safety and well-being of the communities affected by this process, who have reported the destruction of crops and homes.

#humanrights #agrarianreform #eviction #justice #cntc”

On April 9, the day of the police and military raid, the CNTC demanded “the immediate release of the 17 detained farmworkers and the cessation of the criminalization of the struggle for the land.”

On April 10, the CNTC posted: “Their release under alternative precautionary measures is the direct result of that collective strength.”

The CNTC further highlighted: “We are grateful for the valuable technical and legal assistance provided by the Justicia para los Pueblos law firm, alongside the support of Peace Brigades International (PBI), ensuring that the world’s attention was drawn to this outrage.”

Photo: “A special thanks from our peasant organization.”

The CNTC is affiliated with the Unified Confederation of Honduran Workers (CUTH) which in turn is affiliated with the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), along with 150+ labour organizations including the Canadian Labour Congress.

We continue to follow this.

Further reading

–PBI-Honduras accompanied National Union of Rural Workers (CNTC) denounces use of Black Mamba armoured vehicles in eviction of community (April 10, 2026)

–PBI-Honduras accompanies the National Union of Rural Workers (CNTC) as they win the release of 17 detained farmworkers (April 11, 2026).

Espacio OSC and Consorcio Oaxaca launch “Proteger La Dignidad” campaign in Oaxaca with call to strengthen Protection Mechanism

By
Brent Patterson
-

Photo of Elizabeth Mosqueda and panel by Espacio OSC.

El Imparcial de Oaxaca reports: “On Thursday 9 April 2026, at the Oaxaca Institute of Graphic Arts, the #ProtegerLaDignidad [Protect Dignity] campaign was launched, an initiative that aims to raise awareness of the work carried out by human rights defenders and journalists, as well as the systemic risks they face.”

The event was organized by Consorcio Oaxaca and the Space of Civil Society Organizations for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Journalists (Espacio OSC), with the support of the Embassy of France in Mexico, the German cooperation agency Bread for the World, and the Institute of Graphic Arts of Oaxaca.

In their article, Espacio OSC notes: “During the inauguration, Elizabeth Mosqueda, co-director of Consorcio Oaxaca, stressed that Oaxaca is the second entity in the country with the highest number of people incorporated into the Federal Protection Mechanism for Human Rights Defenders and Journalists, which shows the high level of risk faced by those who defend rights in the state.”

That article also highlights: “Mario Cardozo, representing Espacio OSC, presented the approach of the campaign and its main tools, including posters, audio capsules, recommendations and an interactive map on regulatory frameworks for protection. He pointed out that the campaign seeks to place defenders and journalists at the center – and not only the risks they face – promoting a comprehensive vision based on recognition, well-being and the full exercise of rights.”

Photo of Mario Cardozo by Casa de la Cultura Oaxaqueña.

A short video-clip from the public forum can be seen here.

The #ProtegerLaDignidad website can be found here.

PBI supports the strengthening of the Protection Mechanism

Peace Brigades International accompanies Espacio OSC whose member groups include Consorcio Oaxaca and the Zeferino Ladrillero Human Rights Center (CDHZL).

In September 2025, just after Canadian prime minister Mark Carney visited Mexico, Elizabeth Mosqueda from Consorcio Oaxaca and Hugo Arreola from CDHZL travelled to Ottawa accompanied by Manuel Jabonero from PBI-Mexico for meetings with Members of Parliament, Global Affairs Canada, civil society allies and others to amplify the call to strengthen the Protection Mechanism.

Photo: Photo-journal of PBI-Mexico accompanied Espacio OSC advocacy tour in Canada on Protection Mechanism.

Then on February 13, 2026, Elizabeth, Hugo and Mario Cardozo from Espacio OSC participated in a webinar co-organized with PBI that further spoke about the need to strengthen the Protection Mechanism.

Photo: PBI-Canada co-organizes webinar with PBI-Mexico and Espacio OSC on Protection Mechanism in Mexico.

On February 24, 2026, PBI-Canada met with Elizabeth, Hugo, Mario, Manuel and other members of Espacio OSC in Mexico City to discuss ways to continue to involve Canada in the call to strengthen the Protection Mechanism.

Photo: Photo-journal of PBI-Canada visit with PBI projects and accompanied defenders in Mexico and Honduras.

Then on February 27, 2026, PBI-Canada and PBI-Mexico conveyed the same message in a meeting with Melissa Cardinal and Davina Basse at the Embassy of Canada in Mexico City just after the Team Canada Trade Mission to Mexico.

Photo: PBI-Canada and PBI-Mexico meet with the Embassy of Canada in Mexico to highlight the need to strengthen the Protection Mechanism.

And most recently on March 27, 2026, we met on this issue with representatives from the Mexico and Trilateral Affairs Division of Global Affairs Canada, as well as the Human Rights and Freedoms Division, and the Embassy of Canada in Mexico.

Photo: PBI-Canada highlights the need to strengthen the Protection Mechanism in Mexico at APG-organized call with Global Affairs Canada.

The upcoming Canada-Mexico Dialogue in May 2026

We look forward to continuing to provide input for the upcoming Canada-Mexico Dialogue on Human Rights and Multilateral Affairs expected to take place in late-May in Ottawa. The thematic issues to be discussed include freedom of expression, media freedom and rights in the digital space, the theme under which the Protection Mechanism is expected to be discussed by the two countries.

We are now planning a second webinar in advance of the Canada-Mexico Dialogue on Human Rights and Multilateral Affairs.

We continue to follow this.

Additional reading

–338 attacks in 2025: the most violent year for women journalists in Mexico (Somoselmedio, April 10, 2026)

– Journalists in danger: violence, impunity and protection mechanism (Sinembargo.mx, April 11, 2026).

PBI-Honduras accompanies the National Union of Rural Workers (CNTC) as they win the release of 17 detained farmworkers

By
Brent Patterson
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On April 9, the National Union of Rural Workers (CNTC) posted on social media their denouncement of “the brutal and unmeasurable violent eviction carried out this day against the peasant families of the Peasant Group ‘7 de February’, affiliated with the regional CNTC, La Paz” and “the arrest of 17 companions, among them are 4 older adults, 3 women and 2 minors, whose only ‘crime’ is to defend the constitutional right to food and land.”

The CNTC demanded “the immediate release of the 17 detained farmworkers and the cessation of the criminalization of the struggle for the land.”

Today, April 10, the CNTC posted: “Their release under alternative precautionary measures is the direct result of that collective strength.”

The CNTC adds in that post: “We are grateful for the valuable technical and legal assistance provided by the Justicia para los Pueblos law firm, alongside the support of Peace Brigades International (PBI), ensuring that the world’s attention was drawn to this outrage.”

Accompaniment

On March 3, 2026, PBI-Honduras, PBI-Canada coordinator Brent Patterson met with Franklin Almendares, General Secretary, and Rosa Santamaría, member of the National Board of Directors, of the CNTC at their office in Tegucigalpa.

The CNTC is affiliated with the Unified Confederation of Honduran Workers (CUTH) which in turn is affiliated with the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), along with 150+ labour organizations including the Canadian Labour Congress.

Peace Brigades International has accompanied the CNTC since May 2018.

Further reading: PBI-Honduras accompanied National Union of Rural Workers (CNTC) denounces use of Black Mamba armoured vehicles in eviction of community (PBI-Canada article, April 10, 2026).

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