Post by account_disabled on Mar 12, 2024 4:53:34 GMT
The Amazonian Women collective is made up mainly of indigenous women united to defend their land and the environment from oil and mining extraction.
This group has been the victim of several violent attacks, in addition to threats and smear campaigns against human rights defenders.
Recently, a member of the collective France Mobile Number List lived an overwhelming experience: someone started a fire in her house, which destroyed the house and the hundreds of handicrafts valued at more than 50 thousand US dollars that, together with other women, the activist had planned to sell.
This is one of several alarming attacks against members of this group that were committed last year in Ecuador.
According to the activist, "the current Government is dressed as a sheep but is a wolf inside, because extractivist policies advance without mercy, without compassion and, above all, without respect for the self-determination of indigenous peoples and nationalities."
Data from El País says that in Bolivia, similarly, officials at the highest levels of the government have attempted to destroy the reputation of human rights defender Amparo Carvajal, after she denounced state security forces for carrying out carry out arbitrary arrests and use excessive force against agricultural workers.
The situation came to a head last August when two farmers and a police officer were shot dead on a coca plantation in the rural Andean community of La Asunta, an area where indigenous people have been cultivating this plant for thousands of years.
In an interview with a state news channel , Government Minister Carlos Romero blamed Carvajal—who, at 80, is president of Bolivia's Permanent Assembly of Human Rights—for the killings, calling her an “irresponsible person” and a “sponsor.” of criminal organizations.”
Indigenous women like Amada Martínez and Margoth Escobar are especially at risk when they defend the environment and human rights, as they face additional discrimination because of their gender and identity.
Instead of enabling or even contributing to violence against women human rights defenders, South American leaders must recognize the importance of their work and take immediate, effective, gender-sensitive and culturally appropriate measures to protect them.
Because these brave women will not be discouraged, despite the grave dangers they face.
This group has been the victim of several violent attacks, in addition to threats and smear campaigns against human rights defenders.
Recently, a member of the collective France Mobile Number List lived an overwhelming experience: someone started a fire in her house, which destroyed the house and the hundreds of handicrafts valued at more than 50 thousand US dollars that, together with other women, the activist had planned to sell.
This is one of several alarming attacks against members of this group that were committed last year in Ecuador.
According to the activist, "the current Government is dressed as a sheep but is a wolf inside, because extractivist policies advance without mercy, without compassion and, above all, without respect for the self-determination of indigenous peoples and nationalities."
Data from El País says that in Bolivia, similarly, officials at the highest levels of the government have attempted to destroy the reputation of human rights defender Amparo Carvajal, after she denounced state security forces for carrying out carry out arbitrary arrests and use excessive force against agricultural workers.
The situation came to a head last August when two farmers and a police officer were shot dead on a coca plantation in the rural Andean community of La Asunta, an area where indigenous people have been cultivating this plant for thousands of years.
In an interview with a state news channel , Government Minister Carlos Romero blamed Carvajal—who, at 80, is president of Bolivia's Permanent Assembly of Human Rights—for the killings, calling her an “irresponsible person” and a “sponsor.” of criminal organizations.”
Indigenous women like Amada Martínez and Margoth Escobar are especially at risk when they defend the environment and human rights, as they face additional discrimination because of their gender and identity.
Instead of enabling or even contributing to violence against women human rights defenders, South American leaders must recognize the importance of their work and take immediate, effective, gender-sensitive and culturally appropriate measures to protect them.
Because these brave women will not be discouraged, despite the grave dangers they face.