Every year, on 9 December, we solemnly recognize the work of human rights defenders: women and men who, with courage and a deep sense of justice, protect dignity, life, land, equality, and collective memory. Their work sustains the fundamental right to defend human rights—a universal right—and is essential for building fairer, freer, and more supportive societies.
PBI Mexico Statement
November 10, 2025
With deep sorrow, PBI Mexico mourns the passing of human rights defender Blanca Isabel Martínez Bustos, director of the Diocesan Human Rights Center Fray Juan de Larios (FJdL).
Several national and international organizations express our deep concern over the deteriorating conditions for the defense of human rights in Chiapas. This statement follows the break-in at the home of Dora Roblero, Director of the Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas Human Rights Center (CDH Frayba), as well as the ongoing surveillance, intimidation, and harassment against this organization.
2024 brought challenging turning points at both the national and international levels. It was a year of significant operational and organizational changes that strengthened and expanded our work in the field.
The midday sun burns relentlessly on the small patio of Santa María Mixtequilla (SMM) in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, where 50 people have gathered. Some of the women try to keep cool with paper fans, while the men wear large sombreros to alleviate the heat of Istmo. An elderly man stands up and speaks decisively, while the crowd shows their support for his words with subtle movements of their heads: “they want to pay us for a metre of land with the value of a kilo of tortillas”.
Today, November 29, 2022, International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, we celebrate the strong and courageous women who form the backbone of the struggle for a more just life.
“In the face of forgetfulness, which contributes to oppression and marginalization, the weapon of memory is vindicated. Memory is fundamental in the life of peoples, since it prevents us from falling into oblivion. Through memory we give meaning and, therefore, stability to human existence. In memory the land is much more than a productive space, since it is full of symbols and endearing references, that is why the old people of Temoac vehemently exclaim ‘this land cost blood’ in reference to the Zapatista deed ‘and that is why it is not for sale’.
Sahara is from the USA and recently volunteered with PBI in August 2022. There, they provided protective accompaniment to three organisations in Chihuahua; Centro de Derechos Humanos Paso del Norte A.C. (CDHPdN A.C.), Consultoría Técnica Comunitaria A.C (CONTECA.C.) and Alianza Sierra Madre A.C. (ASMAC).