Berta Cáceres, Honduran Indigenous Leader, Assassinated

On March 2nd, Berta Cáceres, one of the leading indigenous activists in Honduras and a Goldman 2015 Prize Winner, was assassinated in her hometown of La Esperanza, Honduras. She was a fighter for the rights of people to live in a protected and healthy environment.

Berta won the Goldman Prize in 2015 for her successful fight against the world’s largest dam builder, and in defense of the rights of indigenous peoples of Honduras. Her powerful speech at  the Goldman Prize ceremony inspires us all. IPEN stands in solidarity with environmental leaders and movements around the world and commits to continue our fight for environmental, health and human justice.

IPEN supports a global, public sign-on to a letter to the Honduran President that was coordinated by Global Witness. 

The letter demands an independent international investigation into the circumstances around Mrs. Cáceres’ death, and guaranteed protection for her family and colleagues. Mrs. Cáceres was granted emergency protection measures by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights because of her acute vulnerability, but she claimed the Honduran state did not fully implement them. The letter also demands urgent action to protect Gustavo Castro Soto, a Mexican activist who witnessed her assassination, and to ensure his safe passage back to Mexico.

Find more information about Berta Cáceres' work on the National Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH) website and the Goldman Environmental Prize website.