Her activism includes campaigning for the release and compensation of her mother, Jacinta Francisco Marcial, who was arbitrarily detained in 2006. On 5th June 2025, two young people from the Hñöhñö community were arbitrarily arrested by police from the State of Querétaro while on their way to work. The community organised a peaceful demonstration to demand their release. During this action, Estela Hernández and her husband, along with five other individuals, were violently arrested while attempting to document the abuses and initiate dialogue with the police. They were held incommunicado for several hours, with no access to legal assistance.
These events are part of a context of systematic repression against those who defend territory, water, and the rights of indigenous communities in Mexico. Estela Hernández continues nonetheless to fight for her people, to transmit her knowledge, and to defend her community. Her courage, determination, and resilience in the face of violence and harassment make her an emblematic figure in the defence of indigenous rights.
To write to him :
ACAT-France
7 Georges Lardennois
75019 Paris
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