Michoacán legislature recognizes environmentalists as human rights defenders

The Michoacán Congress has approved a reform proposal to officially recognize environmentalists as human rights defenders. The initiative, introduced by PRI Deputy Memo Valencia, aims to provide greater visibility and protection to those defending natural resources.

Valencia highlighted the extreme risks faced by activists in remote areas, such as the Villa Madero Environmental Defense Committees and the southern sierra of Morelia, where many operate without cellular coverage or media presence. He noted that forest defenders often face threats and killings from criminal groups, specifically citing recent violence involving the Los Sierras cartel.

The reform aligns with a 2022 United Nations General Assembly declaration stating that access to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is a universal right. Valencia argued that protecting forests, rivers, and air quality is essential to defending the material basis for fundamental rights, including the rights to life, health, water, and food.