Jessica Vega Ortega, an Indigenous Mixtec woman originally from San Miguel Ahuehuetitlán, Oaxaca, studied Political Science and Public Administration at UNAM. A resident of Valle de Chalco, State of Mexico, her career brings together Indigenous activism, international advocacy work, and peacebuilding.
She was a consultant for the UN organizations: FAO and UNFPA-FILAC, and she collaborates with the Valle de Chalco City Council, promoting policies for Indigenous peoples with an emphasis on children and youth. She is the coordinator of the Yani Tundavii Dikuintii collective and co-founder of the Network of Indigenous Youth of Latin America, and her activism confronts systemic discrimination by reclaiming culture.
Co-chair of the Global Indigenous Youth Caucus (GIYC) (2019-2022), she promoted decolonial agendas. She served on key committees:
• Generation Equality (UN Women),
• #Super30 Working Group for Climate Action,
• UNESCO Community Radio Team.
As a recognized Food Systems Champion by the UN Food Summit, she successfully institutionalized the Indigenous Youth Forum at the FAO. Her cross-cutting approach to the 2030 Agenda centers indigenous worldviews.