Nobel Women's Initiative

Nobel Laureate Jody Williams joined over a dozen civil society groups from across Mexico and Central America yesterday to call for the release of political prisoners in Atenco, Mexico—and justice for women sexually violated and psychologically abused by Mexican police.

“Mexico usually does the right thing when it comes to international agreements, but when it comes to inside Mexico, it treats people like they have no value,” she told the gathering of 300 activists and well-known Mexican personalities including actresses Julieta Egurrola and Ofelia Medina.

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Members of el Frente de Pueblos en Defensa de la Tierra (People in Defense of the Land Front) say there are 12 political prisoners still being held in Mexican jails as a result of protests in San Salvador Atenco on May 3 and 4, 2006.  The protesters were in this small municipality near Atenco to support a group of flower vendors who were being forcibly removed from a street market by the local government.   The political prisoners, all of them men, have prison terms ranging from 31 to 112 years.

“Mexico is a place of sadness, of impunity and injustice,” Medina told the crowd.  “The voices that protest this situation are repressed.”

Over 45 women were among those arrested during the same protest, and 27 of them were subjected to physical, psychological and sexual violence by the police officers who arrested them.  More than three years later, they are still waiting for justice.  None of the officers responsible for the abuse have been held accountable.

Every time you hit a woman, you hit all women. -- Patricia Ardon, activist

“Every time you hit a woman, you hit all women,” said Patricia Ardon, an activist from Guatemala.  “We came here to support our sisters because by working together we will achieve justice.”

A human rights defender from Juarez, Mexico told the crowd about the death threats against her and her daughter because of the work she does to help families whose daughters or mothers have gone missing after being detained by police.

“The government may tell you that you have to accept this violence in the name of national security,” said Williams.  “You tell your government you want security and human rights—the two must go hand-in-hand.”

Williams echoed the calls of the activists at yesterday’s rally for the immediate release of political prisoners, and for the adoption of domestic and international human rights organizations' recommendations aimed at protecting human rights defenders.  The event in Atenco was supported by partners of the Nobel Women’s Initiative, including JASS, Just Associates, and Consorcio, a Mexican group that seeks to improve women's rights under Mexican law.

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Learn More

Visit JASS website and blog. JASS en español.

Visit the blog of el Frente de Pueblos en Defensa de la Tierra (People in Defense of the Land Front).

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Read More

Una Nobel de la Paz empuña el machete campesino por las mujeres de México . ADN.ES, 11 September 2009.

Se suma premio Nobel a lucha por la liberación de presos de Atenco La Jornada, 9 September 2009

Atenco concita un apoyo nobelístico. Excelsior, 9 September 2009.

Read an account of the event en Español.