To the Mexican State; To the Ministry of the Interior and the Protection Mechanism for Human Rights Defenders and Journalists; To the Special Prosecutor’s Office for Attention to High-Impact Crimes in Oaxaca; To national and international public opinion: We, the undersigned organizations, express our deep concern regarding the lack of access to justice for the acts of harassment, threats, and violence against Silvia Pérez Yescas, founder and coordinator of Mujeres Indígenas por Casa CIARENA A.C. Ms. Pérez Yescas has dedicated her life to defending the rights of indigenous women and girls in Oaxaca. As a result of her work, she has been subjected to persistent threats and forced to relocate; she now lives under constant risk. The threats began in 2011, after Silvia denounced a federal employee of the National Institute for Indigenous Peoples (formerly the National Commission for the Development of Indigenous Peoples) for abuse of power and sexual violence against indigenous women. Since then, intimidation and attacks have escalated: In May 2024, the same official—still employed at the INPI—assaulted a federal technician sent to install solar panels at Casa CIARENA and sent additional threatening messages to Ms. Pérez Yescas, intensifying the pattern of harassment. In February 2025, there was a break-in at her home: the lock was tampered with, and documents and computer equipment were stolen. In June 2025, Casa CIARENA’s office was broken into again. Despite Silvia’s complaint in 2024, the investigations have made no substantive progress. Although the Protection Mechanism granted her measures, they remain insufficient and culturally inappropriate: the emergency telephone requires internet access, which she does not have, and surveillance is provided by officers linked to the aggressor, further aggravating her vulnerability. In light of this situation, we call on the Mexican State to: Ensure that the Oaxaca Prosecutor’s Office for Crimes of High Social Impact promptly, thoroughly, and impartially investigates the threats and attacks against Silvia Pérez Yescas and her organization, including bringing those responsible to justice. Conduct an independent investigation and take appropriate action on allegations of cases of violence against women and abuse of power committed by government employees. Adopt a zero-tolerance policy to cases of violence against women and girls in line with the government’s obligations under the Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women and its General Recommendation 39. Implement non-repetition measures to end systematic violence against human rights defenders, particularly indigenous women. Provide Ms. Pérez Yescas with effective, adequate, and culturally relevant protection measures tailored to her circumstances. We recall that legislative advances on Indigenous Peoples’ rights must translate into real protections for those who defend them. Protecting indigenous women defenders is essential to ensure that legal recognition becomes tangible in the daily lives of Indigenous Peoples. As international human rights organizations, we will remain vigilant of this situation and of the Mexican State’s compliance with its international commitments to protect women defenders. We reiterate our solidarity with Silvia Pérez Yescas and with all indigenous women defenders who courageously defend the rights of Indigenous Peoples, including Indigenous Women and girls. Sincerely, Abie Anongos, CWEARC, Philippines Abigail Severo Vásquez, Colectiva Ayuuk Toxëjk, Mexico Adolfina Kuum Dolie, Komunitas Peduli Lingkungan, Indonesia Adv Muhammad Bux, Sukaar Welfare Organization, Pakistan Agnes Kharshiing, Civil Society Women Organization, India Aisa Kristine Daguitan, Indigenous Peoples Rights International, Philippines Ajin Vensentius, Dayakologi Center, Indonesia Albert Chan, Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación y Desarrollo Alternativo U Yich Lu’um, Mexico Alberto Saldamando, Indigenous Environmental Network, United States Alejandra Henriquez, Urgent Action Fund Latin America and the Caribbean, Colombia Alex Alvarez, SIT Study Abroad Peru – World Learning, Peru Alfonso Huet, Asociación de Desarrollo Integral Comunitario Indígena (ADICI), Guatemala Aney Chakma, Women Resources network, Bangladesh Anicet Katsuva, Ligue Des Sacrifices Volontaires Pour La Defense Des Droits Humains Et D’envornnement point focal CIVIL BRIDGE, DemocraticRepublic of the Congo Anjali Daimari, Boro Women’s Justice Forum, India Ansilla MECER, Yayasan Karya Sosial Pancur Kasih, Indonesia Anthony Debbarma, Borok Peoples Human Rights Organization, India Anya Links, Nossob Groep, Namibia Assa Asso, Papuan Voices, Indonesia Basavi Kiro, Indigenous Women India Network, India Bernice See, Indigenous Peoples Right International, Philippines Bestang Dekdeken, Cordillera Peoples Alliance, Philippines Beverly Longid, Katribu Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas, Philippines Bidya Shrestha Maharjan, Human Rights Awareness Center, Nepal Bouba Amadou, Lelewal Foundation, Cameroon Carlos Guadalupe Heiras Rodríguez, Perspectivas Interdisciplinarias en Red Asociación Civil, Mexico Catherin Toyeng, Asia Indigenous Peoples Network on Extractive Industries & Energy, Philippines Cecilio Librado, Federación Indígena Empresarial y Comunidades Locales de México. A.C., Mexico Chandra Kulung, Nepal Kirat Kulung Bhasa Sanskriti Utthan Sangh (Kirat Kulu Guskham), Nepal Cica Paen’, Dayakologi Center, Indonesia Clara Merino, Movimiento Mujeres Luna Creciente, Ecuador Claude Buhendwa Byamungu, Alliance Nationale d’Appui et de Promotion des Aires et Territoires du Patrimoine Autochtone et Communautaire enRD Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo Cristina Avila, Comuna Rebelión, Ecuador Daniel Braza, Asia Pacific Network for Environmental Defenders, Philippines Daniel Kobei, Ogiek Peoples Development Program, Kenya Dativa Kanzayire, Organisation des Femmes Autochtones pour la Lutte contre la Violence (OFALV ), Rwanda Debbie Stothard, ALTSEAN-Burma, Myanmar Dharmodip Basumatary, Platform for Asia Indigenous Peoples’ Territorial Rights, Thailand Diel Mochire Mwenge, PIDP, Democratic Republic of the Congo Dilip Chakma, Indigenous Rights Advocacy Centre, India Dora Ávila, Comaletzin A C., Mexico Dorothy Cheruto Marindany, Ogiek Peoples’ Development Program, Kenya Durga Mani Rai, Lawyers’ Association for Human Rights of Nepalese Indigenous Peoples (LAHURNIP), Nepal Edgardo Benítez, Instituto para el Futuro Común Amerindio IFCA, Honduras Edwin Guá, Noticiero Maya Kat, journalist, Guatemala Eleanor Bangoa, Asia Indigenous Women’s Network (AIWN), Philippines Elie Chansa, Right Energy Partnership with Indigenous Peoples, Tanzania Eliseo Gallardo Ponare, Pueblo Indígena SIKUANI, Colombia Eloisa Mesina, Kabataan para sa Tribung Pilipino (KATRIBU), Philippines Emma Santiago, Colectivo Bibani Baadu, Mexico Ephin Falyao, SIKLAB Philippine Indigenous Youth Network, Philippines Erniliana Erniliana, Dayakologi Center, Indonesia Fabiola García, Centro para la Acción Legal en Derechos Humanos -CALDH, Guatemala Fatrisia Fatrisia, JARINGAN JAGA DECA, Indonesia Faustino Martinez Perez, Frente de resistencia indígena juxtlahuaca, Mexico Florina Lopez, Red de Mujeres Indígenas sobre Biodiversidad de América Latina y el Caribe, Panama Fran Lambrick, Not1More, United Kingdom Francine Barcelon, Kabataan Para Sa Tribung Pilipino – Polytechnic University of the Philippines (KATRIBU PUP), Philippines Funa-ay Claver, Katribu Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas, Philippines Gabriel Tripura, KOTHOWAIN (Vulnerable Peoples Development Organization) Bandarban Hill Tract, Bangladesh Gabriela Carino, Partners for Indigenous Knowledge Philippines, Philippines Gabriella Sakina, Young Indigenous Leaders for Nature and Climate – YILNAC Network, Democratic Republic of the Congo Gelo de Guzman, Kabataan para sa Tribung Pilipino – UP Diliman, Philippines Genilda Rodrigues, Associação de mulheres originárias da terra indígena Apucaraninha, Brazil Geoffry Ariong, Turkana Indigenous People Action for Development (TIPD), Kenya Gideon Mawenge, The Marginalised Mirror, Namibia Giring Giring, Dayakologi Center, Indonesia Gloria Zihali, Alliance Nationale d’Appuis et de Promotion des Aires du Patrimoine Autochtone et Communautaire, Democratic Republic of theCongo Gwendolyn Gaongen, Radyo Sagada, Philippines Hawe Hamman, African Indigenous Women Organisation Central African Network, Cameroon Helen Magata, Tebtebba, Philippines Huguette Rusabika, Focus Droits et Accès, Democratic Republic of the Congo Indira Luis Aquino, Grupo de Mujeres 8 de Marzo, Mexico Indira Shreesh, Indigenous Women Legal Awareness Group(INWOLAG), Nepal Ivan Brehaut, Asociación ProPurus, Peru Ivette González, Proyecto sobre Organización, Desarrollo, Educación e Investigación (PODER), Mexico Jackline Lekiale, Samburu Women Trust, Kenya Jade Vignial, Protection International, Belgium Janneth Taimal, As. Mujeres cumbaleñas tejedoras de sueños y saberes, Colombia Jean Claude Kalinganire, ADBR: Association pour le Développement Global des Batwa au Rwanda, Rwanda Jean Claude Kalinganire, Alliance des Peuples Autochtones et Locales en Afrique Centrale (APALAC COALITION), Netherlands Jeandair Benedicto, Kabataan Para sa Tribung Pilipino – UP Manila, Philippines Jebra Ram Muchahary, Indian Confederation Of Indigenous And Tribal Peoples North East Zone, India Jessica Vega Ortega, Tani Tundavii Dikuintii, Mexico Jill Cariño, Partners for Indigenous Knowledge Philippines, Philippines Jillie Basan, Inagkodi, Philippines Jillie Karl, Philippine ICCA Consortium, Philippines Jimmy Ginting, Terranusa Indonesia, Indonesia John Paul Bai, Sierra Leone Land Alliance, Sierra Leone Johnson Jament, AIPNEE, India Jorge Andrés Forero González, Plataforma Continental Somos Abya Yala, Colombia José Juan Sibaja Martinez, Colectivo Guendaracane, Mexico José Raúl Cortez Vásquez, Coordinador del Area de los Pueblos Originarios RED ONGs América Latina, El Salvador Josefina Valencia Toledano, Memoria y Acción Lésbica, Mexico Joseph Balumisa, Alliance nationale d’appuie et de promotion des aires du patrimoine autochtones et communautaire en RDC.ANAPAC,Democratic Republic of the Congo Julio Ferreira, Centro Juventude Covalima, Timor-Leste Justo Samar, Pangataman Bikol, Philippines Kajkoj Maximo Ba Tiul, Centro de Reflexiones Nim Poqom, Guatemala Kalpana Bhattachan, National Indigenous Women’s federation, Nepal Katribu Pup, Kabataan Para Sa Tribung Pilipino – Polytechnic University of the Philippines (KATRIBU PUP), Philippines Ke Jung, Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact, Thailand Khesheli Chishi, Network of Indigenous Women in Asia, India Kihon Kihon, CU G-FPPK, Indonesia Kim Falyao, Siklab Philippine Indigenous Youth Network, Philippines Kinja Tauli, Partners for Indigenous Knowledge Philippines, Philippines KR Abalos, Panaghiusa Philippine Network to Uphold Indigenous Peoples’ Rights, Philippines Kristine Yakhama, Mothers First, Kenya Laura Alejandra Parra Parra, CNTI, Colombia Leo VanderVlist, Netherlands Center for Indigenous Peoples, Netherlands Lia Mai Torres, Asia Pacific Network of Environmental Defenders, Philippines Lola García-Alix, International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs, Denmark Lorang Yun, Ndrang Kon Nuyh(NKN), Language-Basted Network of Bunong, Stieng, Mhoeun, Kroal), Cambodia Loreen Awuor, SHAPE CBO, Kenya Luchie Maranan, Pawanka Fund, Philippines Maegan Naogsan, Asia Indigenous Peoples Network on Extractive Industries and Energy (AIPNEE), Philippines Maleya Foundation, Bangladesh Mambu Alpha Sannoh, Friends of the Earth Sierra Leone, Sierra Leone Manon Cabaup, International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), in the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human RightsDefenders, France Maria del Carmen Ramos Perez, Tlalij, yolojtli uan nemililistlij, Mexico María Luz Figueroa Ramón, Centro para los Derechos de la Mujer Naaxwiin, Mexico Mariana Garrido, World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), in the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human RightsDefenders, Switzerland Marije Douma, Hogeschool Utrecht, Netherlands Markush Basumatary, United Tribal Organization of Assam ( UTOA), India Marta Esber, Fondo Socioambiental Plurales, Argentina Martha Patty, AMAN Maluku, Indonesia Mary Ger, Mumbo International, Kenya Maslah Rompado, Pertubuhan Wanita Orang Asal Malaysia (PWOAM), Malaysia Maty Dominong, Asia Indigenous Peoples Network Extractive Industries and Energy, Philippines Maureen Loste, Indigenous Women’s Network, Philippines – Bai, Philippines Maurice Ouma Odhiambo, Jamaa Resource Initiatives, Kenya Mayalmit Lepcha, Sikkim indigenous Lepcha tribal association, India Mega Ayu Lestari, AMAN – Mata Nusantara, Indonesia Megumi Kamiya, Action Ryukyu Okinawa Achieve Gender Equality, Japan Merel van der Mark, Rainforest Action Network, Netherlands Mirta Pereira, Federación por la autodeterminación de los pueblos indígenas (FAPI), Paraguay Naomi Kipuri, Indigenous Peoples Rights International, Kenya Nedlloyd Tuguinay, Cordillera Peoples Alliance, Philippines Nicholas Barla, Indigenous Peoples Forum, Odisha, India Nicolas Avellaneda, Plataforma de defensores y defensoras de la Tierra – ILC, Argentina Nidia Arrobo, Fundacion Pueblo Indio del Ecuador, Ecuador Nitza Segui, Latinas en Poder, United States Minor Outlying Islands Novelyne Pel-ey, Indigenous Peoples Rights International, Philippines Nukila Evanty, Inisiasi Masyarakat Adat (IMA), Indonesia Pallab Chakma, Kapaeeng Foundation, Bangladesh Pascalina Nellan, Association Chagossiens de France, United Kingdom Pastor Carvajal Blanco, Consejo de justicia comunidad Seque jahuira, Bolivia Patrick Mukanga, CTA, Democratic Republic of the Congo Pavel Sulyandziga, Batani Foundation, Russia Penina Koilel, Sotua Ang Community Based Organization, Kenya Prabindra Shakya, Asia Indigenous Peoples Network on Extractive Industries and Energy (AIPNEE), Philippines Pranab Doley, Indigenous Political Activist, India Pranisha Shakya, Community Empowerment and Social Justice Network (CEMSOJ), Nepal Prince Fataki, Réseau pour la Sécurité et la Souveraineté Alimentaire en RD Congo – RESSAC, Democratic Republic of the Congo Rashmila Prajapati, Women Empowerment Nepal, Nepal Regina Yudititasari, Dayakologi Center, Indonesia Rigan Chakma, Fulda University of Applied Sciences, Germany Rigoberto Juárez Mateo, Gobierno Ancestal Plurinacional de las Naciones Ancestrales Maya Akateka, Maya Chuj, Maya Q’anjob’al, MayaPopti, Guatemala Rikki Mae Gono, Panaghiusa Philippine Network to Uphold Indigenous Peoples’ Rights, Philippines Ro’otsitsina Juruna, Xavante, Brazil Robby Romero, Native Children’s Survival, United States Robie Halip, Right Energy Partnership with Indigenous Peoples (REP), Philippines Rogelia Gonzalez, Grupo de Mujeres 8 de Marzo, Mexico Rosalee Gonzalez, Continental Network of Indigenous Women of the Americas, United States Roselia Gutierrez, Red Interinstitucional, Mexico Rubicelia Cayetano Pesado, Casa de la Mujer Indígena Nääxwiin, Mexico SAKDA SAENMI, Network of indigenous Peoples in Thailand (NIPT), Thailand Samuel Cauper Pinedo, Indigenous Center Association for Sustainable Development – CINDES, Peru Samuel Whesley, Bunyala Agri climate impact solutions, Kenya Saw Eh Khu Dah, POINT(Promotion of Indigenous and Nature Together), Myanmar Sebastián Benfeld, Escazú Ahora Chile, Chile Shankar Limbu, Lawyers Association for Human Rights Nepalese Indigenous Peoples, Nepal Shapiom Noningo, GTANW, Peru Sharanya Nayak, Community Network Against Protected Areas, India Sindh HRD Network, Pakistan Souad Mahmoud, Coordination Feministe pour la Souveraineté Alimentaire CFSA, Tunisia Susana Mejia, Yolpakilis A.C., Mexico Sven-Erik Soosaar, Fenno-Ugria, Estonia Syamsul Alam Agus, Perhimpunan Pembela Masyarakat Adat Nusantara (PPMAN) – Indigenous People’s Rights Advocates Association, Indonesia Tabitha Trumy, Indigenous Women’s Forum of North East India, India Tehersiana Duyung, Dayakologi Center, Indonesia Tono Tono, AMAN Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia Tony Leleruk, IMPACT – KENYA, Kenya Trésor Badisungu, Climate Change Africa Opportunities (CCAO), Democratic Republic of the Congo Trifonia Erny, Bela Banua Talino Association, Indonesia Tyrone Edward Beyer, Asia Indigenous Peoples Network on Extractive Industries and Energy, Philippines Véronique Bulaya, Pilier aux Femmes Vulnérables Actives – PIFEVA, Democratic Republic of the Congo Virginia Dammay, INNABUYOG-Alliance of grassroots indigenous women in the Cordillera, Philippines Vivian Mantias, IPRI, Philippines Wen Di Sia, Gerimis Art, Malaysia Windel Bolinget, Cordillera Peoples Alliance, Philippines Yuanina Maria, Centre for Minority Rights Development, Kenya Yun Mane, CIPO, Cambodia Yvonne Underhill-Sem, Private scholar, Cook Islands Zulema Burneo, ILC LAC, Peru Alessandro Musetta, Italy Alexandra Tomaselli, Italy Andreas Bethmann, Germany Armando de la Cruz Avila, Mexico Aurora Meoni, Italy Azon Paquito, Philippines Beatriz Ramos, Mexico Bineet Mundu, India Camari Serau, Fiji Camille Parguel, Sweden Christina Sayson, Philippines Cindy Kobei, Kenya David Wessel, Canada Elda Alvarado Dolores, Mexico Fernando Márquez Duarte, Mexico Helen Aldana, United States Itzia Miravete, Mexico Jami Tan changes, Bangladesh Janet Arvizu, United States Jessika Eichler, Germany Juan Manuel Diaz de la Torre, Mexico Juana Choxin, Guatemala Loren Pearson, United States Manjuni Chakma, Bangladesh Mark van Boekel, Netherlands Monserrat Corona Tapia, Mexico Mrinal Tripura, Bangladesh Nancy Kelsey, United States Rachana Sam At, Cambodia Radhika Goyal, India Sargylana Atlasova, Russia Sophie Lally, Mexico Tania Pariona, Peru Vanessa Peñaloza, Bolivia
