Our hearts were broken as we heard about the assasination of Berta Cáceres. Cáceres co-founded and lead an organization called the National Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH). For over two decades, Cáceres and COPINH have fought to protect Indigenous homelands in Honduras from the extreme threat of hydroelectric dams. Cáceres had elevated her efforts to protect people and fight dams across Honduras in recent years, which led to threats against her life. Gustavo Castro Soto, a former Global Greengrants advisor in Mexico, was also shot in the attack.

Right now it is imperative that the Government of Honduras be compelled to protect Gustavo Castro Soto. 

According to Global Witness, and Democracy Now!‘s article about Cáceres’ assassination, Honduras is the deadliest country in the world for environmentalists. Between 2010 and 2014, 101 environmental campaigners were killed in the country. Therefore the threat to Castro Soto is real and the international community must stand to protect his life and ensure an investigation of Cáceres’ murder.  

This International Women’s day let’s stand with our fallen sister Berta Cáceres and demand justice.