On March 8, International Women's Day, we at CSEM would like to share the story of women who, with all their strength and love for others, work voluntarily, swimming against the current of discrimination against migrants that plagues the world. Promoting a humanitarian action marked by care for the human being, where one is not indifferent to the pain and trajectory of each person who migrates.
For more than twenty years, a group of women from the La Patrona community, located in the Mexican city of Guadalupe in Veracruz, has been distributing food to migrants on board the train La Bestiawhich crosses Mexico into the cities bordering the USA. These women, known as Las Patrons in reference to their community, received the National Human Rights Award in 2013, for being an example of mobilization and awareness, showing solidarity with people in situations of extreme poverty.obilityeven when their actions put their own lives at risk, by helping people who were at risk., by some, are considered criminals.
The (migrants using the La Bestia come frommostly from other Central American countries, at risk of death in their journeys in direction a cities like Tijuana, Mexicali, Juárez e Matamoros (bordering the USA). Many of these people don't complete the journey, and are even mutilated by jumping off the moving train to escape inspection or criminalsThey travel in the open air, exposed to the strong sun, are extorted by those who charge the "fares" and often end up being kidnapped, a situation that can culminatesr in organ trafficking.
In front of dthis situation, Las Patrons prepared and delivered over a thousand meals in one day. Rice, beans, bread and water were delivered in sacks so that those on the train could take them even when the vehicle was moving, as well as welcoming and helping anyone who might have been injured by the weather on the journey.
THE CSEM reinforces the importance of valuing the role of women in society as a whole. Every day women have to fight for their position, intervening to build a space that is equal, contributing to a better world, where everyone is heard and treated as human beings, in a dignified manner. The work of the Patronas represents the power of women as an organization to help those who travel along dreamy paths with many barriers. Their example of humanity serves men and women all over the world, especially in times of criminalization of humanitarian aid in migration contexts.
Text by: Luana G. Silveira
CSEM Communications Team
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