Berta Cáceres, the beloved and renowned Honduran environmental and indigenous rights activist and winner of the 2015 Goldman Environmental Prize, was murdered in her home on March 2, 2016.
In the aftermath of this tragedy, there has been an undeniable wave of solidarity around the world and a refusal to give up the fight that Berta believed in so strongly. “Berta no murió, se multiplicó! Berta didn’t die, she multiplied!” has been a rallying cry at protests and vigils from Tegucigalpa to Washington, D.C.
Grassroots activists like you have accompanied this effort every step of the way as we’ve honored Berta’s life and work, fought for justice in her case, and advocated for an end to impunity in Honduras.
[See the press release about this letter.]
In response to the murder of Berta Cáceres, the Latin America Working Group immediately set to work organizing a letter to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry calling for “a response from the State Department that is not business as usual but a profound change of direction towards improving the abysmal situation of human rights in Honduras.” The letter was signed by more than 250 environmental, indigenous, women’s, labor, and human rights organizations from around the world, sending a unified message of support for an independent investigation by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and systemic changes in response to this tragic loss.
Carta Abierta al Secretario de Estado John Kerry en referencia al Asesinato de la Activista Indígena y Ambientalista Hondureña Berta Cáceres
[Vea el comunicado de prensa sobre esta carta.]
En respuesta a la muerte de Berta Cáceres, el LAWG (Grupo de Trabajo sobre Asuntos de América Latina) organizó una carta al Secretario de Estado estadounidense John Kerry llamando por “una respuesta por parte del Departamento de Estado que no sea reflejo de las dinámicas políticas convencionales, sino que constituya un profundo cambio de dirección con vistas a mejorar la abismal situación de los derechos humanos en Honduras”. La carta fue firmada por más de 250 organizaciones de derechos humanos, de la fe, indígenas, ambientalistas, laborales y no gubernamentales de todo el mundo, enviando un mensaje unificado de apoyo a una investigación independiente por la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos (CIDH) y pidiendo cambios sistémicos en respuesta a esta pérdida trágica.
A Vigil in Honor of Berta
A vigil in honor of Berta Cáceres was held in Washington DC on April 5, 2016 outside of the World Bank and the Organization of American States (OAS) during the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) hearings. LAWG joined members of Berta’s family, colleagues from Copinh, local activists, visiting human rights defenders from throughout the Americas, and representatives from a wide range of environmental, indigenous, women’s and human rights organizations. The vigil aimed to “uphold Berta Cáceres’ legacy on the fight for human rights, against criminal exploitation of nature, and for the auto-determination of the native peoples of Honduras and the Americas.”
See a photo album of the vigil on Facebook.
LAWG Articles and Blogs Honoring Berta
| Berta Cáceres, Renowned Honduran Indigenous & Environmental Rights Activist, Murdered A moving note from our friend Father Melo (Ismael Moreno Coto, S.J.) of Radio Progreso and ERIC in Honduras about a conversation he had with Berta before her death.
|
Honoring Women Who Defend Rights in the Americas: International Women’s Day 2016
LAWG honored the life of Berta Cáceres for International Women’s Day on March 9, 2016 with a social media campaign.  |
|
Action Alerts
Defending Berta’s Legacy—Tell Congress to stand up for human rights in Honduras
Stop Security Assistance to Honduras until Human Rights Violations are Addressed [Action ended September 1, 2016]
Global Day of Action Demanding Justice for Berta Cáceres [Action ended June 15, 2016]
Take Action: Letter to Support Investigation of Berta Cáceres Murder [Action ended April 28, 2016]
Urgent Action: Letter to Support Investigation of Berta Cáceres Murder & Protect Human Rights in Honduras [Action ended March 14, 2016]
Social Media & Online Resources
Berta’s family and friends, as well as activists and rights groups from around the world, have launched websites and social media accounts to track issues related to the investigation of Berta’s murder and to take action in defense of human rights in Honduras.
For statements, demands, actions, and news coverage seeking Justice for Berta, visit: bertacaceres.org
|
|
Twitter
|
