“They fear us because we are fearless.” – Berta Cáceres

It is with great sadness that we learned of the assassination of Berta Cáceres. As a grantee she was a courageous advocate on the frontlines of social change. We honor her life and the work she did as an indigenous activist and the leader of the Civic Council of Popular Indigenous Organizations of Honduras.

When she was recognized internationally for winning the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2015, she acknowledged the many threats on her life. Her courage to continue speaking out and doing the right thing is an inspiration to us all.

We honor her memory by recognizing the countless lives she touched, and know that the legacy of her dedication to her community and humanity will endure. There must be justice for her murder: Impunity is not an option in any case where courageous activists who risk their lives are targeted and murdered for fighting for justice.

The work Berta began will continue unabated until the rights of all indigenous populations are respected and fulfilled.

Darren Walker President of the Ford Foundation