Killing of Ms Regina Martínez Pérez and law on the protection of human rights defenders

The Women Human Rights DefendersInternational Coalition (WHRD IC) urges the Mexican government to immediatelybring into full force the law for the protection of human rights defenders(HRD) and Journalists. The national mechanism is designed to establishobligations which ensure authorities act on requests for protection of HRDs andjournalists who are at risk of attack through the implementation ofpreventative protection measures.

On the 24th April theMexican Senate unanimously approved the bill for the protection of human rightsdefenders (HRD) and Journalists, and held a minute’s silence for victims. Onthe 30th April in the Chamber of Deputies, the draft law again receivedunanimous support and a minute of silence was observed, this time it was for MsRegina Martínez Pérez, the latest victim.

Ms Pérez was acorrespondent with the publication Proceso, and had recently reported on thearrest of an allegedly high-ranking criminal leader, the arrests of nine policeofficers charged over links to cartels, a local mayor who was arrested withalleged cartel gunmen following a shootout with the Mexican Army, and othercontroversial stories. According to information made available, on the 28thApril, Ms Pérez was found dead in her home with signs of physical assault, hermobile phones and a computer was taken from the scene.

The WHRD IC is especiallyconcerned that the killing of Ms Pérez is not an isolated incident; fourjournalists were killed in 2011 in the State of Veracruz alone. Mrs. Margaret Sekaggya, asSpecial Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, in her recent2011 report mentions that journalists and media workers are targeted due totheir reporting of human rights violations. Furthermore, Mrs. Sekaggya focusedon Mexico when she highlighted the risks faced byjournalists like Ms Pérez; “Journalists and media workers have also beenattacked when their activities include investigations of abuses by powerfulnon-State actors, such as organized crime (Italy, Mexico).” The killing of three morephotojournalists in Veracruz on 3 May confirms the grave threatfaced by those at risk.

The WHRD IC urges theMexican authorities to fulfil their commitments under the UN Declaration onHuman Rights Defenders as well as obligations under the Convention on theElimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, by bringing theprotective law into force as soon as possible.

The WHRD IC calls for theMexican authorities to:

1. Carry out an immediate and impartial investigation into the death of Ms Pérez and to ensure that perpetrators of this attack and others are brought to justice.
2. Ensure that effective measures are implemented and resources are made available to assist and protect those at risk, in coordination with civil society.
3. Ensure that the new law is put into effect immediately and enables HRD and journalists to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of harassment, intimidation and physical injury.
4. Ensure that the specific needs of WHRDs are fully taken into account in the elaboration and implementation of the protection mechanism.

The Women HumanRights Defenders International Coalition (WHRD IC) is a resource andadvocacy network for the protection and support of women human rights defendersworldwide.

This statement has beenindividually endorsed by the following organisations:

Amnesty International (AI)

Association for Women’sRights in Development (AWID)

The Center for Women'sGlobal Leadership (CWGL)

Front Line InternationalFoundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (Front Line)

Information Monitor(Inform)

Peace BrigadesInternational (PBI)

The Observatory for theProtection of Human Rights Defenders (a joint programme OMCT-FIDH)

Women’s Initiatives forGender Justice (WIGJ)