Congratulations to Dominga Vasquez (Guatemalan women's rights activist with FUNDAMAYA) and Helen Woodcock (Peace Brigade's international UK volunteer) who have won the International Service Award for the Defence of the Human Rights of Women. They have won the award jointly with Nizaam (Cookie) Edwards, Provincial Coordinator of the KZN Network on Violence Against Women and Intersect Coalitions in South Africa.
The following information is taken from the PBI UK website and the Protection Line website.
"Ten years after a brutal thirty year conflict in Guatemala, the human rights situation is at a critical condition: in 2005, there were an estimated 224 attacks against human rights defenders, as documented by The National Human Rights Movement's Protection Unit, with the same patterns evident in 2006.
These are the treacherous conditions in which Dominga Vasquez works to promote the rights of women and indigenous people. Public appreciation of her hard work was recognized when she was elected as the first female Indigenous Mayor of Solola. When performing her Mayoral duties, Dominga applies Mayan vision and traditional approaches to conflict-resolution in order to bring peace and unity to Guatemala to improve the lives of women there.
PBI began accompanying Dominga in her efforts in February 2005 and it was through this partnership that she met Helen Woodcock. As part of the PBI team, Helen provides an international protective accompaniment to Dominga, putting her own personal safety at risk. The physical presence and support of international volunteers such as Helen empowers human rights activists to defend their rights without fear of violence or reprisals. Peace Brigades International nominated this brave partnership for the award."
In April 2005 Amnesty International issued an urgent action after there was grave concern for Dominga Vasquez's life. FUNDAMAYA forms part of the coalition Frente Nacional contra la Mineria, National Front against Mining, which campaigns to raise awareness of the potential environmental damage caused by mining and the negative impact on indigenous communities living close to mines. Carlos Humberto Guarquez who also received death threats, is FUNDAMAYA's representative to the coalition.These are the treacherous conditions in which Dominga Vasquez works to promote the rights of women and indigenous people. Public appreciation of her hard work was recognized when she was elected as the first female Indigenous Mayor of Solola. When performing her Mayoral duties, Dominga applies Mayan vision and traditional approaches to conflict-resolution in order to bring peace and unity to Guatemala to improve the lives of women there.
PBI began accompanying Dominga in her efforts in February 2005 and it was through this partnership that she met Helen Woodcock. As part of the PBI team, Helen provides an international protective accompaniment to Dominga, putting her own personal safety at risk. The physical presence and support of international volunteers such as Helen empowers human rights activists to defend their rights without fear of violence or reprisals. Peace Brigades International nominated this brave partnership for the award."
Women human rights defenders under attack: 25 years of fighting to defend human rights
Amnesty International UK and Peace Brigades International will be celebrating Peace Brigades International's 25th anniversary at an event dedicated to the work of women human rights defenders, and the central role they play in the struggle for human rights and justice.
Dominga Vasquez will be talking at the event; along with Kopila Adhikari who works for Advocacy Forum against illegal detention and extra-judicial killings, in Kathmandu, Nepal; and Berenice Celeyta, is president of Nomadesc (Association for Social Research and Action); a non-governmental organisation dedicated to working with marginalised and oppressed communities in Colombia.
The event will be held on: 6th December, 6.00pm at Human Rights Action Centre, 17 - 25 New Inn Yard, London EC2A 3EA. Entry is free and you can book from AI UK's website.
UPDATE - Event confirmed in Manchester:
Human rights award acknowledges work of Indigenous Guatemalan woman and Manchester human rights defender.
Saturday 9th December 2006 (12.00 - 1.30pm) at: The Friends Meeting House, Mount Street (Behind Central Library).
Accused of terrorism during a campaign to raise awareness about the rights of Indigenous communities, Guatemalan Human Rights activist Dominga Vasquez is also the first woman in 500 years to hold the position of Indigenous Mayoress. She is visiting the UK to collect the International Service Human Rights award.
Hear this hugely inspirational woman, who, in the face of death threats, intimidation and racism, continues her work for justice and human rights in Guatemala. Don't miss the chance both to hear Dominga speak and to welcome this amazing woman to Manchester. Speaking with Dominga will be Helen Woodcock, Manchester resident and joint recipient of the International Service prize, who has recently spent over a year in Guatemala with Peace Brigades International, providing accompaniment for Dominga and other workers for human rights and social and environmental justice threatened with violence as a result of their work.
