Human rights violations and environmental degradation are particularly pervasive in the context of large-scale extractive and infrastructure projects. Despite the existence of international standards and legislative codes meant to protect threatened individuals and communities, these rights are often the focus of conflict as powerful interests wish to exploit the natural resources found within and beneath traditional territories.
The Peace Brigades International-Guatemala Project has posted numerous articles on its Facebook page about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Guatemala.
Today, 22nd April 2020 marks the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day.
The Peace Brigades International-Honduras Project has affirmed on its Facebook page that despite the COVID-19 pandemic: “We continue with our work of accompanying national organizations and monitoring violations of human rights.”
On April 13, the Peace Brigades International-Honduras Project posted photos by the National Union of Rural Workers (CNTC) Secretary-General Franklin Almendars.
PBI-Honduras notes, “[Almendars] denounces that with the decree PCM-030-2020 recently approved by the government, businessmen are empowered to take charge of food production, putting aside small producers and the peasant communities.”
Article by PBI-Canada
On April 13, the Peace Brigades International-Mexico Project published and began circulating its April 2020 e-newsletter.
In it PBI-Mexico notes, “Like most of the organizations that we accompany in the country, we took strict confinement protection measures prior to the Mexican government decree of phase 2 of the pandemic and the declaration of a national health emergency.”
On April 13, the Peace Brigades International-Kenya Project posted, “WHRD Toolkit Organizers are supporting their communities to stay safe during the COVID-19 outbreak.”
They then introduce us to Victor, popularly known as V-slim, and note: “He goes door to door distributing water containers, food items. He also talks with the community on the importance of maintaining high standards of hygiene and social distancing.”
Water is a human right and especially essential during the pandemic.
On April 11, Al Jazeera reported, “A Mexican journalist who disappeared more than a week ago in the southern state of Guerrero was found dead on Saturday, becoming the second journalist to be murdered this year in the country.”
“Forensic tests on human remains in the seaside resort of Acapulco were identified as belonging to Victor Fernando Alvarez, who disappeared on April 2.”
On April 10, the Peace Brigades International-Kenya Project posted, “Jecinter Agunja is a Women Human Rights Defenders Toolkit Organizer from Mathare and a member of the Coalition of Grassroots Human Rights Defenders (CGHRD Kenya).”
On April 11, the Peace Brigades International-Guatemala Project posted on its Facebook page an IM-Defensoras media release about a virtual meeting of women human rights defenders that took place on Monday, April 6.
