November 25, 2020
Wednesday 25 November is International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Gloria, a passionate defender of women’s rights, talks about dedicating over 30 years of her life to preventing and ending violence against women in Colombia.
Continue reading “Defending women’s rights in Colombia”July 30, 2020
We can’t return to the normality of before the coronavirus pandemic, says Omar Serrano. When all of this is over, none of us will be the same person we were before.
Continue reading “Creating a new normal in El Salvador”July 29, 2020
During the coronavirus pandemic, the government in Honduras is increasing its repression and stigmatisation of human rights defenders. Furthermore, despite the risks posed by coronavirus for workers, some mining companies are continuing their activities with the approval of the government. Jess Michelmore, from CAFOD’s Latin America team, shares the story of Juana, a human rights defender from Honduras.
Continue reading “Defending land and life in Honduras”July 1, 2020
Father Melo is the Director of CAFOD’s longstanding Church partner ERIC-Radio Progreso in Honduras, which works on communications and research focusing on migration, integral ecology and defending human rights. As ERIC celebrates its 40th anniversary, Father Melo talks about the current situation in Honduras, the impact of coronavirus, his ideas for an alternative development, the organisation’s achievements and their hopes for the next 10 years.
Continue reading “Towards a world after coronavirus in Honduras”October 22, 2019
Kezia Lavan from CAFOD’s Brazil team tells us about her latest trip to the Brazilian Amazon where she met with local communities who are learning to farm sustainably, preserve the forest and stand up for their rights.
Continue reading “Building a common home in the Brazilian Amazon”October 17, 2019
Bishop David Martínez de Aguirre Guinea works in Peru’s Amazon and is one of the two Secretaries attending the Amazon Synod. As the Synod takes place, Bishop David tells us about the importance of bringing the Amazon and its peoples into the heart of the Church.
Continue reading “Why the Earth needs the Amazon”October 15, 2019
Mauricio López is the Executive Secretary of REPAM – a Catholic Church network CAFOD supports that promotes the rights and dignity of the people in the Amazon. As the Amazon Synod takes place, Mauricio tells us about the threats indigenous communities in the Amazon face and the important role they play in protecting our planet.
Continue reading “Standing alongside indigenous communities”October 9, 2019
Father Peter Hughes is a missionary priest originally from Ireland who has lived and worked in Peru for over 50 years. As the Amazon Synod begins, he tells us about the importance of the Amazon for the whole world.
Continue reading “The defence of the Amazon is at the centre of our faith”December 10, 2018
Today is International Human Rights Day. Esther Gillingham, CAFOD’S Brazil Programme Officer explains how CAFOD’s partner, Justice on the Railway Tracks is empowering human rights defenders and changing lives in Brazil.
CAFOD are very proud to share the news that our Brazilian partner, Justice on the Railway Tracks was presented with the first ever Human Rights and Business Foundation Award presented at the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights in Geneva on 27th November 2018.
They received the award for their work defending poor communities from the impacts of human rights and environmental abuses by mining companies in the Amazonian state of Maranhao in north-eastern Brazil.
This work included a 13-year long legal struggle which resulted in the landmark resettlement of the Piquia de Baixo community who have been adversely affected by a huge steel plant built right next to their community in the 1980s.
Support our human rights work in Brazil
Continue reading “Celebrating Human Rights Defenders in Brazil”
October 10, 2018
Tania Dalton was a member of CAFOD’s Latin America team for nearly 13 years. In this blog she explains how Archbishop Oscar Romero has inspired her to begin a new chapter in her life.
Two big things are happening in my life right now:
It might seem conceited to say the two things are related, but in my mind, they are.
I first heard about Archbishop Oscar Romero when I started working in CAFOD in 1999. I am inspired daily by Romero’s unwavering option for the poor, although I was a small child when he was killed for his defence of basic human rights and social justice.
