IN SHORT

A Zapotec woman from a remote Oaxaca village, Eufrosina Cruz is a champion of gender equality and of the rights of indigenous women and communities. Her efforts are focused on promoting human rights whilst simultaneously defending the space for indigenous communities to retain their culture and voice their own opinions. Her hope is to see an end to the paternalistic treatment of indigenous people and to see young indigenous Mexicans empowered, given equal access to education and opportunities and standing up for themselves and their communities. “I believe in them. They have such an enormous capacity to innovate.”