Support the Hermanas González Groundbreaking Legal Team

Friends, I am asking you to support a historic fight for indigenous women's rights in Mexico.

Twenty-five years ago three Tseltal-Maya sisters, known as the Hermanas González, were raped in front of their mother by a group of Mexican Army soldiers in the state of Chiapas. Army courts refused to investigate and no one was prosecuted.

In a complete reversal, last June, the Mexican government agreed to to award restitution and to apologize publicly to the family.

The brilliant work of my colleagues Rosa Dalia López (in photo above, teaching the Hermanas' mother to sign her name) and Gloria Flores, Esq. (in top photo, speaking), produced this turnaround.

Put indigenous womens' voices first

Gloria and Rosa's innovative strategy has been to let the Sisters speak to authorities directly through Rosa Dalia's translating. The Sisters' own voices have convinced top-level authorities of the truth of their life-shattering story.

It is unusual for human rights legal teams to include an indigenous interpreter/advisor like Rosa Dalia. This team's work is a model for other human rights organizations who do not yet include indigenous language and culture in their strategies.

Your support will make a difference

I am raising money for transportation, meals, and communication costs-to-date for Rosa Lopez and Gloria Flores. Your donation will reimburse them for personal funds already spent on this case.

Whatever you can donate

• $645 pays for all meals
• $400 pays for all cell phone expenses
  
• $200 pays for workspace
  
• $90 pays for a round trip air fare from Chiapas to Mexico City
• $21 pays for a round trip bus ticket to the Chiapas state airport
• $5 pays for one meal
  

I get it, there are so many things to donate to urgently now. But this team has produced concrete, path-breaking results.

Throughout the Americas few organizations work on sexual violence against indigenous women. This is an opportunity to make visible a little-discussed topic, even among indigenous organizations.

No Facebook--share via email

I'm keeping this a closed campaign. Please do not share on Facebook or any on-line platform, but feel free to forward the link.

Thank you, with love and appreciation for y'alls support,

Vivian Newdick, PhD
Member of Lekil Chapawanel human rights collective for the Hermanas González cause