Consepción was given an impossible choice: change her religion or lose her water supply.
But Consepción and her husband didn’t give in. And they’ve lived without running water in their home in El Encanto, Mexico ever since.
That was six years ago.
Two years later, the local authorities of El Encanto blocked their access to sewerage services. In 2020, their electricity supply was cut off.
Email the Mexican municipal and state governments now to demand that Consepción’s water, electricity and sewerage services are reinstated.
Without running water or electricity, simple household chores – like cooking, cleaning or washing clothes – become costly in every sense. For five years, Consepción had to travel by truck two or three times a day to buy water. If she wants to use a washing machine rather than doing the laundry by hand, she must put five litres of fuel into an electricity generator for each load of washing, which is very expensive.
No one should have to live like this, and women like Consepción typically carry this load.
Join us in calling for everyone in El Encanto to have access to basic services, regardless of their religion or belief.
Consepción’s family is one of several Protestant Christian families in her village who suffer together. In many indigenous communities across Mexico, local authorities try to impose religious uniformity within their communities. Those who no longer follow the beliefs and practices of the majority often face punishment.
Enforcing religious uniformity violates Mexico’s Constitution, and it’s the Mexican government’s responsibility to hold local authorities to account. But when these families from El Encanto asked for help from the municipal authorities, they were told: ‘We already know why they’re coming with their same problem, and we are not going to listen to them.’
It’s time they listened.
Send an email now
Thank you!
Anna-Lee Stangl
Joint Head of Advocacy
P.S. Each time you use water today, please join me in praying for Consepción and others who have been denied water, electricity and sewerage services. We see breakthroughs when we pray and campaign together.
