UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS EXPERTS SADDENED AND OUTRAGED BY THE MURDER OF MEXICAN HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER

24 October 2001



The Special Representative of the Secretary-General on human rights defenders, Hina Jilani, the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Asma Jahangir, the Special Rapporteur on torture, Sir Nigel Rodley, and the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Dato’ Param Cumaraswamy, today expressed their deep sadness and outrage over the murder of renowned human rights lawyer Digna Ochoa y Plácido in Mexico City on Friday 19 October 2001. A note left at the scene warned other members of the Miguel Agustin Pro Juárez Human Rights Centre in Mexico that more killings could be expected.

Ms. Ochoa gained international respect and acclaim for her integrity and courage as a human rights defender, particularly in providing legal counsel to imprisoned members of the Zapatista movement (EZLN) in Chiapas, as well as political and environmental activists. Over the last years, she has been subject to several threats, attacks and attempts on her life because of her work as a human rights defender, and United Nations human rights experts have repeatedly appealed for immediate measures to protect her life and physical integrity. It appears that Ochoa was under police protection until she left Mexico to work in the United States last year. However, these measures were reportedly not reinstated when she returned home in April this year.

The Government of Mexico has strongly condemned the murder of Digna Ochoa. The UN Experts said that it is now the duty of the Mexican authorities to carry out prompt and thorough investigations with a view to bringing the perpetrators of this despicable crime to justice without delay. This act demonstrates the vulnerability of human rights defenders, and underlines the need for strengthening measures for their protection. It is time that the Government brings an end to impunity, and takes immediate steps to ensure that Mexican human rights defenders are able to continue their work in safety and security, the Experts added.




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