Femicide
Mexico is encountering an endemic wave of violence particularly experienced by women and termed femicide. The term is generally understood to involve intentional murder of women because they are women, but broader definitions include any killings of woman and or girls.
Daugther disappeared
Norma Ledezma began her career as a human rights defender after her daugther, Paloma, disappeared on her way home from school in Chihuahua, Mexico. Since that moment, she has dedicated herself to ending impunity by seeking justice for the families and victims of femicide, disappearance and human trafficking and she has supported over 200 investigations into cases of femicide and disappearances, on behalf of both male and female victims.
The justice system here is unreal. Justice is an utopia. It is reserved for a few people, not for us, - Norma Ledezma, activist, human rights defender and founder of 'Justice for our daughters'
As a party in the case over her daughter´s murder, which was brought before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, Norma Ledezma is responsible for the creation of a Special Prosecutor office for Women Victims of Violence in her native state of Chihuahua.
About Martin Ennals Award
The Martin Ennals Award is an annual prize for human rights defenders. Finalists and the laureate are selected by a Jury of 10 of the world´s leading human rights NGOs. The Award provides protection and support to human rights defenders who are at risk.