Antonio Díaz Valencia
Antonio Díaz Valencia is a leader and member of the indigenous community of San Miguel de Aquila, a candidate for the presidency of the ejidal commissariat of Aquila, Michoacán, a teacher and human rights defender. His work has focused on representing the community in negotiations over the operation of the mining complex in Aquila.
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.
