About the case

For several years Alejandra Gonza has represented Lucila Bettina Cruz Velázquez, a human rights defender from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec region of Oaxaca, Mexico. Cruz and her local attorney, Ricardo Lagunes Gasca, advocated for the respect of indigenous land rights, challenging development projects such as wind farm and mines on indigenous lands without consultation and free, prior, and informed consent. They reach the Supreme Court of Mexico seeking to invalidate an unfair process by which the government affirms obtained consent from the zapotecos community. 

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GRA's involvement

GRA's requested and obtained precautionary measures from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (“IACHR”) to protect Bettina Cruz's life. Because of her work she is in extraordinary danger. Recently, Bettina and her community submitted a case requesting remedies for the human rights violations committed by the government and a Eolic company. 

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