This Saturday, October 18th, marks five years since the Women Defender Kenia Hernández Montalván was unjustly imprisoned in Mexico as a reprisal for exercising her legitimate right to protest and defend human rights.
Kenia is a lawyer and Amuzga feminist who, as coordinator of the “Zapata Vive Libertarian Collective” and co-founder and member of the “Movement for the Freedom of Political Prisoners of the State of Guerrero” (MOLPEG – by its acronym in Spanish), accompanied survivors of gender-based violence, family members of victims of femicide, people unjustly deprived of their freedom, and people affected by the activities of extractive companies.
During these five years, Kenia has been imprisoned in various prisons, including a maximum-security prison, CEFERESO 16, in the State of Morelos where she was transferred after the Attorney General's Office and representatives of Federal Roads and Bridges (CAPUFE – by its acronym in Spanish) identified her as "a person who puts society at risk because she speaks out a lot." In prison, Kenia has experienced continuous violations of her rights, most recently when, upon the death of her mother, she was denied the right to attend her funeral and hug her children, who had just lost their caregiver. However, Kenia has never stopped defending her rights and those of other prisoners.
Kenia's case is an example of the persecution and cruelty with which the capitalist, racist, and patriarchal system seeks to submit Indigenous women who dare to take a step forward and organize to defend their territory and common resources. For this reason, we call on you, starting this Friday, October 17, to join the campaign to demand her immediate release. MORE INFORMATION ON KENIA'S CASE
How can you do it?
Starting Friday, October 17, share the poster attached to this call on your social media channels, along with a message demanding freedom for Kenia Hernández and the hashtag #KeniaLibertadYA.
Tag:
the National Network of Women Human Rights Defenders in Mexico (@RedDefensorasMx),
the Zeferino Ladrillero Human Rights Center AC (@cdhzloficial),
the Freedom for Kenia Movement (@ParaKenia), and
the Mesoamerican Initiative of Women Human Rights Defenders (@IM_Defensoras)