ARTICLE: 30th Anniversary of the Zapatista Uprising

LATEST: Elections amid High Levels of Political Violence

SIPAZ Activities (mid-November to mid-February 2024)

22/03/2024

INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE AND ACCOMPANIMENT

We participated in the quarterly Assembly of the Pueblo Creyente of the diocese of San Cristobal de Las Casas.
We were present at the Action Day “Needles and Threads for Freedom”, organized by several organizations and groups “in solidarity with the political prisoners of Chiapas, victims of the fabrication of culprits and hostages of the Mexican State.”
On November 25, we were present at the demonstration organized by members of the Diocesan Coordination of Women (C ODIMUJ) in San Cristobal de Las Casas. This march was called in commemoration of the International Day for the Eradication of Violence against Women.
We were present at the event organized within the framework of the tenth anniversary of the Movement in Defense of Life and Territory (MODEVITE), which took place in Patria Nueva, municipality of Ocosingo.
We accompanied the delegation of the “Mexico-European Union Platform for Peace and Human Rights” (of which we are part), during their tour through different states of Mexico (Morelos, Tlaxcala, Puebla and Chiapas), as part of your visit to San Cristobal de Las Casas.

We were present at the inauguration of Murals for Peace, which took place in San Cristobal de Las Casas, an activity organized by Melel Xojobal and the platform for Peace in Chiapas Slamalil Kinal.
On December 21^st and 22^nd, we attended the different activities that were organized within the framework of the commemoration of the 25 years of the Acteal massacre.
Ending 2023 and beginning 2024, we attended the events that took place in Dolores Hidalgo, municipality of Ocosingo, within the framework of the 30 ^th anniversary of the uprising of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN).

On two occasions, we visited displaced people from the Sierra area who are taking refuge in shelters in Comitan, Tzimol and Socoltenango.
On January 25th, we accompanied the pilgrimage of thousands of people called by Pueblo Creyente that took place in San Cristobal de Las Casas, a setting in which parishioners from the parishes that make up the diocese of San Cristobal de Las Casas denounced drug violence and other forms of injustice they experience, and made a new call for the construction of peace in the state.
We participated in the Theological Meeting for Peace that took place in San Cristobal de Las Casas.

In Mexico City, during the month of February, the presentation of the report titled “Siege on Daily Life, Terror for the Control of Territory and Serious Violations of Human Rights” took place. This report was prepared in collaboration between various groups and civil society organizations, in whose documentation process SIPAZ provided its support.

In November, we participated in the 11^th High Level Dialogue between Mexico and the European Union on Human Rights.
In November, the more than 300 national and international organizations that make up the EPUMX Collective presented shadow reports with recommendations for the Mexican State.
In January, we met with members of the United States Embassy in San Cristobal de Las Casas.

We facilitated the session on Active Non-Violence (NOVA), part of the Diploma on Positive Conflict Transformation, convened by the Commission for Community Unity and Reconciliation (CORECO).

We facilitated a workshop with the daughters of artisan women who participate in the Mujeres de MaIz collective from several municipalities in the Highlands and the Northern Jungle.

We held a work session framed in the strategic planning process of Economic and Social Development (DESMI A.C.).
Together with Voces Mesoamericanas, we facilitated a workshop with young people from the Macabeos area, Estrella region of the parish of Ocosingo, on topics of Positive Conflict Transformation and Peace Building.
We held a workshop on risk analysis and protection measures with the pastoral team of the Guadalupe Mission, which is based in Comitan and covers seven municipalities.

We held a new work session framed in the DESMI strategic planning process.
We facilitate the session on Peace Building, part of CORECO’s Positive Conflict Transformation diploma.
We facilitated an analysis with parishioners belonging to the Independencia parish.

In December, we participated in a workshop on Peacebuilding facilitated by the International Catalan Institute for Peace (ICIP) that took place in San Cristobal de Las Casas

With a minimum monthly frequency, we attend plenary meetings and commissions of the Peace Organization in Chiapas, Slamalil Kinal. In November, said platform convened a meeting of civil organizations, journalists and academics that had the participation of 80 people and whose purpose was to share analysis and strategic reflections for the construction of peace.
On a bimonthly basis, we attend operational meetings of the People’s Movement for Peace and Justice (MPPJ).
In September, October and November, we participated in a meeting with representatives of the pastoral areas that are part of the Monitoring Commission of the Congress of Mother Earth, a component of the social pastoral care of the diocese of San Cristobal de Las Casas.
We participated in the preparation and implementation of a Civil Observation Mission coordinated by the Mexico-European Union Platform for Peace and Human Rights, which visited several states in Mexico.
In January, we participated in a meeting of partners who collaborate with the German cooperation project Welthaus.
In January, we participated in virtual meetings of the partners of the Global Platform for the Prevention of Armed Conflicts (GPPAC).
In January, we participated in a security analysis space in San Cristobal de Las Casas, which was attended by several civil organizations with a presence in this city.