Angela Mendes called for sustained support for women defending forests and the Amazon at COP31 in Antalya, Turkey. (Foto: Instagram)
Angela Mendes, daughter of environmentalist Chico Mendes and president of the Chico Mendes Committee, called for greater recognition and support for women activists protecting forests and the Amazon. She spoke Wednesday, Nov. 11, at the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP31, in Antalya, Turkey.
Mendes said women who defend their communities and territories should not have to face threats alone. She called for networks and organizations to provide support and said that help should be ongoing—not limited to moments when threats emerge. She also emphasized care and collective efforts to develop solutions.
Mendes said forest defenders are on the front lines of attacks and violence. She argued that the dangers faced by leaders working in their territories often do not reach the general public. “It is essential to bring this issue into the discussion because our leaders are there in their territories, facing all kinds of threats, attacks and violence,” she said.
The panel where Mendes spoke included 11 activists from different countries and focused on the challenges faced by people working on the front lines of territorial defense. The Chico Mendes Committee is participating in COP31 with Mendes and Ana Luiza de Lima, the committee’s general coordinator. The conference runs from Nov. 9 to Nov. 20.
