Candido Mezua

President of the Embera Foundation for International Cultural Development

Cándido Mezúa, a member of the Emberá Wounaan people in Panama, has dedicated his life to defending Indigenous rights. His advocacy has gained international recognition, particularly in issues related to forests and territories. As a prominent speaker and participant, he has been invited to prestigious global events and negotiation spaces, including the United Nations REDD Program. where he has been invited to conferences and specialized events from organizations such as the World Resources Institute (WRI) , Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI). He has also “shared the stage” with key political, economic and business figures such as Vicky Tauli Corpuz, UN Indigenous Peopless Rights Rapporteur; Paul Polman, Unilever CEO; Helen Clark, Program Director of the United Nations United Nations Environment Program (UNDP); Tine Sundtoft, Minister of the Environment of Norway; special guest of the State of California, as part of the delegation of the Mesoamerican Alliance of Peoples and Forests (AMPB) among many others.

Cándido is currently Secretary of International Affairs of the AMPB, President of the Embera Foundation for International Cultural Development and Links with Embera Wounaan.