An award winning Mexican journalist, and president of the woman’s refuge, Centro Integral de Atencion a las Mujeres (CIAM), was arrested on 16 December 2006 in Cancun, transported over 1000 miles to the city of Puebla and charged with defamation and slander.

Mexican police detained Lydia Cacho Ribeiro (42) for 30 hours in San Miguel state prison before releasing her on $10,000 bail. Ms Ribeiro must appear before a judge in Peubla every week until her trial begins. If she is found guilty she could face up to four years in prison.

According to local newspaper, the defamation charges are based on a complaint filed by the Puebla-based manufacturing baron Jose Camel Nacif Borge.

Earlier this year, in her book “The Demons of Eden”, Ms Cacho alleged that Mr Borge had ties with the accused paedophile Jean Succar Kuri.

Lebanese born Kuri was arrested by US marshals in February 2004 in Arizona and stands accused of rape, corruption of minors and organising sex parties involving minors.

Ms Cacho has indicated that the information in her book is based on existing documents and that she has sufficient proof for her defence.

In Mexico, defamation is a criminal offence and is sometimes used to silence and intimidate journalists and human rights defenders from reporting on matters of public interest. Ms Cacho‘s colleagues at CIAM believe that she is being punished for exercising her right of freedom of expression.

Front Line calls on the Mexican authorities to implement the Inter American Commission on Human Rights recommendation to make defamation a civil offence.

Earlier this year, Ms Cacho and other staff at three different CIAM offices received over 40 threatening telephone calls.

Front Line is concerned that Lydia Cacho Ribeiro and her staff are being targeted due to their human rights activities in protecting and assisting women and girls, particularly those who are victim of domestic violence.

Front Line is calling on the Attorney General's Office (Procuraduría General de la República, PGR) in Mexico City and the representatives in Cancún, Quintana Roo State, where CIAM is based to take steps to provide Lydia Cacho Ribeiro and her staff with protective measures immediately.