Father Marcelo Pérez Pérez
Father Marcelo Pérez Pérez is an indigenous priest and human rights defender based in Simojovel. He currently coordinates the Social Pastoral of the Province of Chiapas, which integrates the Dioceses of the municipalities of San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Tapachula and Tuxtla Gutiérrez. He actively supports and collaborates with organizations and groups of the religious indigenous movement which promotes the collective rights of indigenous peoples and denounces projects that threaten their beliefs and their autonomous living.
Within the movement of Pueblo Creyente por la Defensa de la Madre Tierra (Believing People for the Defense of Mother Earth), Marcelo Pérez Pérez has led pilgrimages and activities related to issues such as access to healthcare, poverty and violence, targeting the population of the Municipality of Simojovel in Chiapas. Despite the lack of political will and protection, he continues his religious activities in defence of the rights of indigenous peoples.
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.
