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María Mendoza Lucas

HRD

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Rights: 
#LGBT+ Rights
#Indigenous Peoples / Campesino Rights
#Land Rights
Location: 
#Region: Americas
#Mexico

María Mendoza Lucas is an indigenous human rights defender and trans woman. She is a dancer and has defended human rights and social justice in Oaxaca. In particular, she has defended both the right to housing of the Mazateco community in Eloxochitlán de Flores de Magón, opposing gentrification of the area, as well as their cultural rights and right to self-determination, through the promotion of traditional medicine.

Human rights defenders (HRDs) and journalists in Mexico are subject to intimidation, legal harassment, arbitrary detention, death threats, acts of physical aggression, enforced disappearances and killings as a result of their activities in defence of human rights and the exercise of freedom of expression and journalism.

 

Disappearances are endemic in Mexico, often happening with collusion from the state. HRDs working on the issue face serious risk, up to and including death. HRDs working in the defence of territory, particularly indigenous territory, face a similar level of risk. They are criminalised, imprisoned, defamed, and often killed. Journalists working on any of these issues, or issues related to the drugs trade and the government's complicity in this, also run the risk of losing their lives.

#Mexico
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