Death threats against human rights defender in Mexico

Front Line is deeply concerned for the security of the staff of the Centro Integral de Atencion a las Mujeres (CIAM); in particular, its President, Lydia Cacho Ribeiro. CIAM is an organisation which offers refuge, support and advice to women and children throughout Mexico whose rights are being violated.

According to information received, from 25 April to 1 July 2005, Lydia Cacho Ribeiro received at least 42 threatening telephone calls to the CIAM office in Cancun. In one of the most recent, the caller stated: "This is for Lydia Cacho for her to be aware that I'll be in Cancun soon, when she is least expecting me... The Attorney General's Office, cannot do anything to me...whoever messes with me dies". On 30 June, a man visited the CIAM office in Saltillo and harassed the director. The suspected perpetrator of these threats is a former police officer from the State Judicial Police Force in Coahuila state, whose wife and children are being sheltered by CIAM.

It is reported that the same man has been responsible for earlier attacks and threats on the CIAM offices. In November, the man entered the CIAM offices armed with and demanded that his wife and children be returned to him. On 9 February, Lydia Cacho Ribeiro received two threatening telephone calls also from the man.

The majority of these threats were denounced by the victims before the District Attorney General. Initially, both Lydia Cacho Ribeiro and the staff of CIAM were offered police protection, but since the election of a new administration in April 2005, only the protection afforded to Lydia Cacho Ribeiro has continued. Moreover, Front Line is aware that there is a Judicial Police Force conducting an investigation into accusations that the former police officer had links with organised crime. Yet, to date, no charges or arrest warrants have been issued against him.

Front Line has requested that the Mexican authorities: - take adequate and appropriate measures to protect Lydia Cacho Ribeiro and the staff of the Centro Integral de Atención a las Mujeres (CIAM) - take adequate and appropriate measures to conduct an exhaustive and impartial investigation into the attacks and threats against Lydia Cacho Ribeiro and the staff of the Centro Integral de Atención a las Mujeres (CIAM)

For more information about women human rights defenders please click International Women Human Rights Defenders Campaign