Berta Cáceres, renowned Lenca indigenous leader and defender, fought for the rights of indigenous people in Honduras. She defended land, rivers and nature from exploitative industries while also advocating for the rights of the most marginalized people in Mesoamerica. For this, she was assassinated. Nobel Women’s Initiative stands with local activists continuing to demand justice for Berta.
Nobel Women’s Initiative is led by eight women Nobel Peace Prize laureates - Jody Williams (USA), Shirin Ebadi (Iran), Tawakkol Karman (Yemen), Leymah Gbowee (Liberia), Rigoberta Menchú Tum (Guatemala), Narges Mohammadi (Iran), Maria Ressa (Philippines) and Oleksandra Matviichuk (Ukraine). The laureates know first-hand the important role women play in fighting for basic rights, for equality, justice and peace. And yet too often their voices remain unheard or are silenced with little to no consequence.
It has been over eight years since Berta Cáceres was killed. In November 2018 and July 2021 eight people were found guilty and sentenced to serve time in prison. This was a positive step towards justice. However, the convictions remain unconfirmed by the Supreme Court of Justice in Honduras. Consequently, justice remains unserved and local activists continue to run a campaign called “For Berta all the truth and all the justice! / ¡Para Berta toda la verdad y toda la justicia!”.
Maria Butler, Executive Director of Nobel Women’s Initiative, comments:
“As long as the perpetrators who killed Berta Cáceres are free, with their prison sentences unconfirmed, justice remains unmet. This case is devastating for Berta’s family, and for activists who continue to fight for justice and human rights such as water, food, and land. It is also sadly representative of the challenges women, indigenous and environmental activists face. Our voices are too often silenced. This must stop. We urge the Honduran authorities to ensure that justice is carried out in its full form, and to put an end to a culture of impunity fed by corruption, militarism and patriarchy.”
Across the Mesoamerica region extractive industries have a history of abusing power, violating human rights, and decimating natural habitats and indigenous land. For too long a culture of violence, corruption, and repression largely directed at women, indigenous people and marginalized groups has been allowed to prosper by corrupt governments. While some progress has been achieved in curbing the power of industries and enacting legislation designed to protect marginalized communities in the region, many issues persist.
Daina Ruduša
Head of Media and Communications
Nobel Women’s Initiative
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