Abel Barrera Hernandez, Director and founder of the Tlachinollan Human Rights Center, an organization accompanied by PBI, received an honorary mention on 29 March from the Franco Alemán Gilberto Bosques Human Rights Award.

This award, which aims to recognize those people, collectives and organizations who stand out for their defense of human rights, peace, solidarity and justice, is awarded by the German and French embassies in Mexico.

For more than 22 years, Tlachinollan has accompanied the defense of the rights of rural and indigenous Me’phaa, Naua, Nn’ anncue, Na savi y Mestiza communities in the Mountain region of Guerrero.

This region is highly affected by marginalization, and poverty in the country. In addition, the Center accompanies and legally represents the families of the 43 students of the “Raul Isidro Burgos” Teachers School in Ayotzinapa, who were disappeared in September 2014 in Iguala, Guerrero.

Tlachinollan was among the organizations that requested precautionary measures from the IACHR which allowed for the creation of the GIEI that provided technical support for the investigation between 2015 and 2016.

They also supported the families of the 43 students in their petition to the IACHR to create a mechanism to follow up on the GIEI´s recommendations. This was approved on 29 July 2016 and the mechanism made its second official visit to Mexico between 21-29 April.

PBI congratulates Abel Barrera Hernandez for the honorary mention that was awarded to him.

In this way, international actors with presence in Mexico recognize the legitimate and important human rights work of Tlachinollan in the state of Guerrero and throughout Mexico.

Tlachinollan´s human rights work has been recognized on previous occasions — Vidulfo Rosales, lawyer for the families of the 43, was named “Human Rights Champion” by the UN Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights.