Stop Violence Against Women

Human Rights Defender

Obtilia Eugenio Manuel

Mexico

Those who struggle to defend human rights in Mexico have often been the first to come under attack, and to have their own rights violated and their safety threatened. Human rights defenders and community activists in Guerrero state have frequently been the target of threats, harassment and smear campaigns. Those responsible are rarely brought to justice. In many parts of Guerrero the army carries out operations against drug producers and traffickers. There are reports of military patrols intimidating indigenous communities as they search for traffickers and alleged members of armed opposition groups. The authorities rarely investigate such incidents, leaving communities extremely vulnerable and unwilling to lodge complaints.

Amnesty International believes indigenous rights activist and human rights defender, Obtilia Eugenio Manuel, may be in danger and is being harassed and threatened in order to prevent her from carrying out important human rights work. She has highlighted abuses committed by the military in the region, including the reported rape of two indigenous women in 2002. The federal authorities provided some protection but the state authorities reportedly failed to conduct an effective investigation.

As a leading member of the indigenous organization Organización del Pueblo Indigena Tlapaneco, AC (OPIT), Obtilia has documented reports of human rights violations against members of the indigenous communities in the southern state of Guerrero. At a conference on indigenous rights in Guerrero from 3-4 December 2004, Obtilia made a presentation in which she publicly condemned the authorities' failure to fully and independently investigate the rapes in which members of the military have been implicated.

On 9 December 2004, a few days following the conference, a letter was reportedly delivered to Obtilia's house, in the municipality of Ayutla de los Libres. It warned her that "soon you will rest in peace", and also threatened her family. It told her that "You keep on trying to attack us with your stupid lies about the rape of Valentina and Inés. We've had enough of the stupidities you accuse us of. We were already going to get you but now you are really in trouble". After this incidence, Obtilia's home has been under surveillance by unknown men, she has been followed and photographs have been taken of the OPIT offices. Obtilia has suffered intimidation and death threats before, in relation to her work on the case of rape of the two indigenous women, but she did not report the incidents to the authorities for fear of reprisals against her or her family, including her two young daughters.

On 14 January 2005, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights of the Organization of American States recommended that the Mexican authorities take "precautionary measures" to protect Obtilia. At the time of writing Amnesty International understands that while some of the measures have been denied or are being studied by the authorities, others are in the process of being implemented.

Take Action!
Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Spanish or your own language:

Expressing concern for the safety of human rights defender Obtilia Eugenio Manuel and her family following the death threats and the intimidation she suffered in December 2004 and January 2005 in the municipality of Ayutla de los Libres, Guerrero state;
Urge the Mexican authorities to adhere to their obligations to ensure the safety of Obtilia Eugenio Manuel and her family in line with the request for precautionary measures made by the Inter-American Human Rights Commission;
Remind the authorities of their obligations to fulfil the principles contained in the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility Of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote And Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 9 December 1998, commonly known as the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders;
Calling on the authorities to develop a national plan of action to implement the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders as an important first step to ensure that human rights defenders are able to safely carry out their legitimate work. The Plan of Action should include specific measures to address the particular obstacles faced by women HRDs.

Please send your appeals to:

Governor of Guerrero
Lic. René Juárez Cisneros,
Gobernador del Estado de Guerrero
Palacio de Gobierno, segundo piso, Plaza Central, Primer Congreso de Anahuac,
Colonia Centro, Chilpancingo 39000, Guerrero, México
Fax: + 52 747 47 23125
Salutation: Dear Governor/Señor Gobernador

Attorney General of Guerrero
Lic. Jesus Ramirez Guerrero, Procurador General de Justicia del Estado de Guerrero
Carretera Nacional México-Acapulco Km. 6+300, Tramo Chilpancingo
Petaquillos, Chilpancingo 39090, Guerrero, México
Fax: + 52 747 47 22328
Salutation: Dear Attorney General/Señor Procurador

Minister of the Interior
Lic. Santiago Creel
Secretario de Gobernación, Secretaría de Gobernación
Bucareli 99, 1er. piso, Col. Juárez, Delegación Cuauhtémoc,
México D.F., C.P.06600, México
Fax: +525 55 093 3414
Salutation: Señor Secretario / Dear Minister

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