Association of Indigenous Women of Santa María Xalapán

In July 2009 we began accompaniment of the Association of Indigenous Women of Santa María Xalapán, based on threats that one of its members had received from a community member. The association works actively in the Jalapa region in defence of women’s rights and of natural resources. On 14 July we observed a march of indigenous people from the Xalapán mountains against mining and petroleum exploration and exploitation in the Jalapa Department and in all of the country’s territory. In addition, on 29 July in the capital, we observed a march and presentation of an open letter to the President and the Congress signed by 20,000 members of the
Xinca Indigenous Community of Santa María Xalapán. The demands contained in the letter are based on the absence of consultation in the framework of current international norms and include the rejection of the granting and operation of 15 licences for mining exploration and/or exploitation and of actors involved in the petroleum industry in the department of Jalapa.
The Association was founded in February 2004 as an association of women workers and became part of the Women’s Sector in June of the same year.