In the first eight months of 2007, there have been 158 attacks on human rights defenders in Guatemala, according to the Human Rights Defenders Protection Unit of the National Human Rights Movement (MNDH in Spanish). In her 2007 report, the Special UN Rapporteur for human rights defenders Hina Jilani, said individuals and organizations most at risk are those working on questions involving the right to land and the defense of natural resources and the environment.

These are the dangerous conditions in which Eloyda Mejia works for the protection and conservation of Lake Izabal, which is Guatemala's largest lake and possesses Guatemala’s most extensive area of aquatic biodiversity  Eloyda is the Legal Representative the Association of the Friends of the Lake Izabal (ASALI), which campaigns for the conservation and the protection of the lake and sensitizes the surrounding population of the damaging effects for the lake of the re-opening of the Guatemalan Nickel Company (CGN) mining operation in the area.  Eloyda is also heavily involved in developing sustainable tourism in the municipality of El Estor, department of Izabal. 

PBI began accompanying Eloyda and her colleagues in February 2004 when she was warned to stop opposing mining activities or risk being killed. Threats against her continue. As a result, the PBI team  continues to accompany Eloyda and other members of ASALI during their activities and meetings with communities concerned about mining activities in the area.

The physical presence and support of international volunteers empowers human rights activists to promote environmental protection and the rights of communities affected by environmental degradation without fear of violence or reprisals.