Self care as a political strategy: Sustainability and well-being for women human rights defenders

This article contains reflections on the experience of the Mesoamerican Initiative of Women Human Rights Defenders (IM-Defensoras) and Consortium for Parliamentary Dialogue and Equity Oaxaca, AC (Consorcio para el Diálogo Parlamentario y la Equidad Oaxaca) – a member of the IM-Defensoras’ Steering Committee – around the work they have been doing on self-care since 2010. Adopting a self-care approach not only ensures the sustainability of social movements, but also constitutes an ethical-political viewpoint that looks at the practices and relations established at work at the personal and collective level. This article also discusses the experience of Casa La Serena, a place of rest and healing for women human rights defenders.