Bety and Jyri: The Seed Rises - Call for submission of an artistic work

On 27 April 2010, Bety Cariño and Jyri Jaakkola were murdered for showing solidarity in the autonomous community of San Juan Copala in the Triqui region of Oaxaca. Since then, the search for justice for Bety and Jyri and the demands for punishment have not stopped. 

After more than a decade, there is still no justice. The systematic impunity of attacks on human rights defenders in Mexico is unacceptable. Their work is essential to strengthening the rule of law worldwide and we must ensure their protection. 

We want to keep the memory of Bety and Jyri alive and call on artists in solidarity to contribute to this in their different art forms. This is what it is all about:

• The contributions should serve the historical memory of both activists.
• Possible techniques: Printmaking, painting, watercolour, multimedia, poster, poetry and others.
• The deadline for submissions ends on 30 July 2023.
• 20 works will be selected. Their authors will each receive 3000 Mexican pesos (150 euros) in prize money. The selection jury will be composed of family members of the murdered and recognised artists.
• All works will be exhibited in Oaxaca City, with other locations to be determined. At the end of the exhibition, the unselected originals will be returned.
• The selected works will be part of the international campaign to defend the case and seek justice for both families.

If you have any questions, please contact semillasqueflorecen@proton.me

The call for entries is organised by family members, friends and the legal representation of Bety and Jyri in Mexico and Finland.