WOMEN ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS IN MEXICO FACE A UNIQUELY CHALLENGING REALITY.
Climate change, gender-based violence, and socio-economic disparities intersect to create difficult and often dangerous reality for the countless women in Mexico who step up to address pressing environmetnal and climate challenges.
In response, WEA partners with locally- and women-led groups across the country to catalyze, uplift, and protect frontline women’s environmental leadership. We work closely with our Mexico Program Leads to co-design and co-implement initiatives for environmental, social, and economic impact. Together, we collaborate to achieve food sovereignty; climate resilience; health equity; and economic independence for women, families, and communities throughout Mexico.
WHAT'S AT STAKE
Between 10-11 women are victims of femicide every day in Mexico. Indigenous women, women of color, and those experiencing poverty are disproportionately impacted by gender-based violence, and those who speak out as environmental defenders face even greater risk.
Meanwhile, women in Mexico earn less than men, on top of the unpaid care work they often also shoulder. In 2023, women’s unpaid labor was estimated to equal 24.3% of Mexico’s national GDP.
Women are responsible for over half of our world’s food production but own and/or manage a marginal percentage of land. In Mexico, only 15.7% of land is owned by women.
Regenerative Agriculture and Food Sovereignty: Transforming local food systems, preserving traditional agricultural practices, and protecting soil health.
Ocean Conservation and Sustainable Fishing: Monitoring marine ecosystems and the effects of climate change on kelp forests and coral reefs, while bolstering women’s participation in fishing and diving.
Indigenous Knowledge: Safeguarding ancestral knowledge, use of medicinal plants, and Indigenous seed-saving while supporting climate adaptation.
Eco-entrepreneurship and Economic Autonomy: Increasing women’s economic independence and promoting economic resilience through women-led eco-enterprises.
MEXICO PROGRAM LEADS
AfroCaracolas is an Afro-feminist collective focused on increasing economic autonomy for Afro-Mexican women and fostering environmental justice in the state of Guerrero.
AfroCaracolas
Las Cañadas is an agro-ecological cooperative in Veracrúz that hosts educational agriculture and seed-saving courses and has conserved 260 hectares of local cloud forest.
Las Cañadas Bosque de Niebla
Mujeres de la Tierra, Mujeres de la Periferia is an Indigenous women’s collective focused on protecting women’s rights and promoting traditional cooking and farming practices.
Mujeres de la Tierra, Mujeres de la Periferia
Poj Kää is an Indigenous women-led collective working to protect biodiversity and promote traditional indigenous knowledge in agriculture and medicine within the Ayuujk community of Tlahuitoltepec.
Poj Kää
Sirenas de México a newly formed collective dedicated to promoting gender equity while protecting Mexico’s precious ocean ecosystems through women’s participation in marine monitoring and diving.
Sirenas de Mexico
Unión de Pueblos de Morelos works among rural farming communities to support women agriculturalists, increase food sovereignty, ensure economic autonomy, and create a more sustainable and just society.
Unión de Pueblos de Morelos
A TRACK RECORD OF IMPACT IN THE REGION
