Melina Maldonado Sandoval

Melina Maldonado Sandoval is a Mayo-Yoreme indigenous woman human rights defender, artisan and fisherwoman in Lázaro Cárdenas on Ohuira Bay, Sinaloa. She defends the rights of indigenous peoples and their territory, particularly the traditions, culture and biodiversity of her community.

She is also an environmental advocate and has led initiatives aimed at empowering her community, particularly women. She is a member of the “Aquí No” collective, where she defends the rights of her community against the impacts of an ammonia plant and a methanol plant that threaten the ecosystem of Ohuira Bay, Sinaloa.