Yesica Sánchez Maya
Yesica Sánchez Maya is a woman human rights defender and member of the executive team at Consorcio para el Diálogo Parlamentario y la Equidad Oaxaca, a feminist organisation with 15 years of experience working in Oaxaca, promoting the recognition, respect and exercise of women’s human rights as well as gender equality. This organisation also promotes the development of civil society networks and capacity for human rights advocacy as well as training on gender-based rights and participation in democratic processes and community affairs.
Human rights defenders (HRDs) and journalists in Mexico are subject to intimidation, legal harassment, arbitrary detention, death threats, acts of physical aggression, enforced disappearances and killings as a result of their activities in defence of human rights and the exercise of freedom of expression and journalism.
Disappearances are endemic in Mexico, often happening with collusion from the state. HRDs working on the issue face serious risk, up to and including death. HRDs working in the defence of territory, particularly indigenous territory, face a similar level of risk. They are criminalised, imprisoned, defamed, and often killed. Journalists working on any of these issues, or issues related to the drugs trade and the government's complicity in this, also run the risk of losing their lives.
