Date: Wednesday October 5, 2016
Time: 12:30 pm - 1:25 pm
Location: William H. Gates Hall, Room 127 (Law School).

Join us for a conversation with Bettina Cruz (Mesoamerican Women Human Rights Defenders Initiative) as she discusses the fight against climate change and land rights in Mexico.

Bettina Cruz is a defender of Indigenous land rights in Tehuantepec, Mexico. As a binnizá Indigenous woman and member of the Assembly of Istmo of Tehuantepec Indigenous Peoples in Defense of Land and Territory, Bettina works to counter the impact of private companies operating wind farms on Indigenous lands, without obtaining free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC). Bettina is also a member of the National Network of Women Human Rights Defenders in Mexico. In response to her activism, the Mexican Federal Government launched criminal charges against Bettina in 2012. Bettina demonstrated inspiring resilience throughout the course of her trial, which brought threats, assault, and arbitrary detainment against her. These charges were finally dismissed in February of 2015.