PUBLIC AI Index: AMR 41/026/2008

28 May 2008

Further Information on UA 167/07 (AMR 41/028/2007, 28 June 2007) Fear for safety/Death threats

MEXICO Marisela Ortíz Rivera (f), human rights defender;

Norma Andrade (f), human rights defender;

María Luisa García Andrade (f), human rights defender;

Other members of Nuestras Hijas de Regreso a Casa (Our Daughters Return Home)

Members of an organization set up to fight for justice for women abducted and murdered in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua state, have received threats apparently linked to the opening of the film “Bordertown”, which is loosely based on the stories of the murdered women. Members of Nuestras Hijas de Regreso a Casa (Our Daughters Return Home) have supported the film’s release as a way of raising awareness of the killings of women in Ciudad Juárez.

On 25 May, members of Nuestras Hijas de Regreso a Casa received an email accusing them of profiting from the film and threatening them and their daughters. It said: "Fucking old fools with making yourselves famous you already showed your arses with the film Bordertown. Don’t carry on robbing the mothers who deserve help, leave Juárez now if you don’t like it. Leave the people of Juárez in peace we’re sick to death of your fucking bullshit complaints. We’re going to fuck you, fucking gossips and exaggerators. Don’t be surprised if one day we take your daughters and send them back to you in pieces. We’re going to fuck you where it hurts most bitches. Most of all the whore Malu Garsia (sic) and the hypocrite Maricela (sic). Take care because soon you’ll have unpleasant news."

(Pinchis biejas kuleras con tal de aserse famosas ya dieron las nalgas con la pelicula Bordertaun. No sigan robando a las madres que meresen ayuda, largense de Juaritos si nno les gusta. Dejen en pas a los Juarenses que ya nos tienen asta la madre con sus pinchis kejas de mierda les bamos a dar asta por el culo, por pinchis chismosas y exajeradas. No se estranen ke un dia les cojan a sus hijas y se las regresen en pedasos. Las bamos a chingar dandoles donde mas les duela hijas de la mierda, prinsipalmente a la puta de Malu Garsia y la ipocrita de la Maricela. No se descuiden porke pronto tendran notisias desagradadbles.[sic]"

On 16 May, “Bordertown” was premiered in Ciudad Juárez. In the days leading up to the film premiere, members of Nuestras Hijas de Regreso a Casa have told Amnesty International that they received anonymous SMS messages on their mobile phones, telling them not to support the film, accusing them of making money from the situation and threatening that they would be investigated and put in prison.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Over 430 women and girls have been murdered in Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua City since 1993. Approximately one in three of these murders involved some form of sexual violence. In 2003, Amnesty International's report Mexico: Intolerable killings (AMR 41/026/2003: http://www.amnesty.org/en/report/info/AMR41/026/2003) highlighted the pattern of violence against women in these two cities and the systematic failure of the authorities to effectively prevent and punish these crimes. Since then, the state government in Chihuahua has taken some measures to improve investigations, but many perpetrators have not been brought to justice and those responsible for the systematic failure of investigations have not been held to account. More than 30 women reported abducted remain unaccounted for. In 2008 at least 17 women have been murdered. Members of organisations such as Nuestras Hijas de Regreso a Casa have been at the forefront of the campaign for truth and justice, and have presented a number of cases before the Inter American Commission on Human Rights. Human rights organisations working on the issue have frequently been accused of profiting from the cases and damaging the image of Ciudad Juarez. They have also been subject to threats and attacks on several occasions. The perpetrators have never been brought to justice.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Spanish or your own language:

- expressing concern at the threats against Maricela Ortíz Rivera, María Luisa García Andrade, Norma Andrade and other members of Nuestras Hijas de Regreso a Casa;

- calling on the authorities to put in place adequate protection measures for those at risk, in accordance with their own wishes;

- urging the authorities to carry out a swift and impartial investigation to identify those responsible for the email and text message threats received by Nuestras Hijas de Regreso a Casa in recent weeks and to bring them to justice;

- calling on the authorities to fulfil their obligations under the UN Declaration on the Rights and Responsibilities of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognised Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, and ensure that human rights defenders have a right to carry out their activities without any restrictions or fear of reprisals.

APPEALS TO:

Minister of the Interior

Lic.Juan Camilo Mouriño Terrazo

Secretario de Gobernación, Secretaría de Gobernación

Bucareli 99, 1er. piso, Col. Juárez, Delegación Cuauhtémoc, México D.F., C.P.06600, MEXICO

Fax: +52 55 5093 3414/15/16 (to confirm receipt /17)

E-mail: secretario@segob.gob.mx

Salutation: Señor Secretario / Dear Minister

Governor of Chihuahua State

Lic. José Reyes Baeza Terrazas

Gobernador del Estado de Chihuahua, Palacio de Gobierno, 1er piso, C. Aldama #901, Col. Centro,

Chihuahua, Estado de Chichuahua, C.P. 31000, MEXICO

Fax: +52 614 429 3300 ext. 11066

Salutation: Señor Gobernador / Dear Governor

Chihuahua State Public Prosecutor

Patricia González Rodríguez

Procuradora del Estado de Chihuahua, Procuraduría General de Justicia del Estado

Vicente Guerrero 616, Col. Centro, Chihuahua 31000, Estado de Chihuahua, MEXICO

Fax: +52 614 415 0314

Salutation: Señora Procuradora General / Dear Public Prosecutor

COPIES TO:

Special Prosecutor on Violence Against Women

Dra. Guadalupe Morfin Otero

Fiscal Especial para la Atención de Delitos Relacionados con Actos de Violencia contra las Mujeres

Procuraduría General de la República,

Rio Elba, No. 17, Col. Cuauhtemoc, Del. Cuauhtemoc, México D.F, C.P. 06300, MEXICO

Fax: +52 55 5346 2540

Email: atencionmujeres@pgr.gob.mx

Nuestras Hijas de Regreso a Casa

Email: nuestrashijas@gmail.com

and to diplomatic representatives of Mexico accredited to your country. PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 9 July 2008.