Norma Ledezma is a human rights defender from Chihuahua, Mexico, who has a long experience in the field. She became a human rights defender when her daughter Paloma disappeared in 2002 in Chihuahua, Mexico and was later found murdered. As the founder of the organization Justicia para Nuestras Hijas (Justice for Our Daughters), Norma seeks justice for disappeared women throughout Mexico.
In February 2020, Norma visited the NHRF secretariat in Oslo. During her visit, she raised awareness about her difficulties and experiences through talks with the Norwegian Minister of International Affairs, Amnesty International Norway and the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights (NCHR).
"Living in Mexico, living in Chihuahua as a human rights defender is not easy, (...) but it is more difficult to live under the impunity that is sheltered under the complacent eyes of the state.” Norma Ledezma, Mexican human rights defender
In this short story, shared on the I Defend Rights platform, Norma talks about the obstacles she faces as a human rights defender in Mexico, as well as her sources of inspiration and strength to continue seeking justice for her daughter and many other Mexican women.
Listen to her story here (only in Spanish):
Photo: Mónica Orjuela/NHRF.