Use cases
Observatory of Human Rights Defenders in Chiapas
A state wide coalition that monitors threats against human rights and land defenders in a region impacted by conflict, inequality, and organised crime in Chiapas, Mexico.
The Observatory of Human Rights Defenders in Chiapas, also known as El Obse, is a first-of-its-kind state-wide coalition of twenty non-NGOs dedicated to sharing information related to the growing security threats to human rights and land defenders in the southern state of Chiapas, Mexico. The region is marked by poverty, social inequality, conflict, militarisation and violence. In addition to traditional tensions around Indigenous resistance movements, repressive security forces and the influence of the United States, in recent years, Chiapas has become a strategic enclave for organised crime cartels.
This observatory is made up of individual partner organisations that contribute to the generation of more reliable statistics, help build a clearer contextual picture for advocacy, and support efforts to monitor and track the risks and threats their members face while doing their work. This coalition includes mid-sized international NGOs, small local organisations, and independent human rights defenders working across a spectrum of issues, including migrants’ rights, women’s rights, land rights, Indigenous rights, and more.
"We are witnessing extremely high levels of violence and the forced displacement of Indigenous communities here in Chiapas. That’s why we believe this observatory comes at the right moment."
—Ximena Ramos, Coordinator of the Vulnerable Groups Unit, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
