26 Jan 2012 Mexico: Defending the Communication Rights of Indigenous Women and Men

Unión de Comunidades Indígenas de la Zona Norte del Istmo (UCIZONI), Mexico
€ 7,970
Ref. 1950

The Union of Indigenous Communities of the Northern Istmus of Tehuantepec strengthens its members’ efforts to defend their human rights, autonomy, culture, land and natural resources through providing legal and technical advice, training and collective management of economic resources. Among the many challenges and problems facing the peoples of the area are environmental damage, the loss of their land to foreign corporations, and the threat to indigenous varieties of corn that is the staple food of the indigenous peoples. The communities feel a strong need to strengthen community life and values that can help them to better defend their rights. The project will train 30 Mixe, Mixteca, Zapoteca, Chinanteca and Huave women and men in community journalism and radio production skills. They will use their new abilities in community radio reporting and programmes incorporating a gender perspective on themes such as environmental protection, conservation of indigenous corn, gender equality, and human and indigenous rights. The project will help ensure that women and men from the communities participate actively in the forum provided by community radio. The project is inspired by international recognition in multilateral agreements that indigenous peoples have the right to create and use their own communication media.

Contact: Sra Juana Ramírez
Email: ucizoniac@gmail.com or Raville_123@hotmail.com
Web: http://ucizoniac.blogspot.com/