Carlos González García
Carlos González García is a human rights defender from Mexico, lawyer for indigenous communities, and founding member of the Congreso Nacional Indígena (National Indigenous Congress). He is one of the most renowned lawyers in the agricultural sector and has supported communities in various proceedings involving indigenous resistance against dispossession, megaprojects and structural violence. He has been the lawyer for the Milpa Alta communities based in Mexico City for many years.
Human rights defenders (HRDs) and journalists in Mexico are subject to intimidation, legal harassment, arbitrary detention, death threats, acts of physical aggression, enforced disappearances and killings as a result of their activities in defence of human rights and the exercise of freedom of expression and journalism.
Disappearances are endemic in Mexico, often happening with collusion from the state. HRDs working on the issue face serious risk, up to and including death. HRDs working in the defence of territory, particularly indigenous territory, face a similar level of risk. They are criminalised, imprisoned, defamed, and often killed. Journalists working on any of these issues, or issues related to the drugs trade and the government's complicity in this, also run the risk of losing their lives.
