Death threats against Eva Lucero Rivero Ortiz
On 2 January 2017, human rights defender, Eva Lucero Rivero Ortiz, received threatening messages sent to her mobile phone and on Facebook, in Pinotepa Nacional, Oaxaca, Mexico.
Eva Lucero Rivero Ortiz is the spokesperson for the Unión Cívica Democrática de Barrios Colonias y Comunidades – UCIDEBACC (Civic and Democratic Union of Neighbourhoods, Settlements and Communities). UCIDEBACC works against the construction of a “Coppell” department store on municipal land in Pinotepa, Nacional, Oaxaca.
On 2 January 2017, human rights defender, Eva Lucero Rivero Ortiz, received threatening messages sent to her mobile phone and on Facebook, in Pinotepa Nacional, Oaxaca, Mexico.
Eva Lucero Rivero Ortiz is the spokesperson for the Unión Cívica Democrática de Barrios Colonias y Comunidades – UCIDEBACC (Civic and Democratic Union of Neighbourhoods, Settlements and Communities). The organisation has been active in the defense of the rights of indigenous and afro-descendant peoples in the region, particularly their rights to education, health, food and housing.
On 2 January 2017, Eva Lucero Rivero Ortiz received several threatening messages on her mobile phone and in Facebook posts. The messages included threats against her life, physical integrity, threats of sexual violence, and offences against her work in defence of land and territory, accompanying political prisoners and in favour of women's rights.
The recent threats were made in the context of UCIDEBACC’s support for the mandate of Yareli Cariño López, who was illegally removed from office as local representative in the municipality of Pinotepa Nacional. On 3 February 2017, the Electoral Court of Oaxaca decided that Yareli should return to her post.
In Mexico, women human rights defenders and journalists frequently suffer specific attacks due to their gender, such as sexual violence and defamation campaigns based on gender stereotypes. There is a high rate of impunity, more than 98%, for such attacks. Oaxaca is the state with the highest level of attacks against women human rights defenders and journalists in Mexico.
These attacks are part of a systematic pattern of misogynist and sexist aggressions due to their human rights work. Since 2013, 53 incidents were registered against Eva Lucero Rivero Ortiz, including repeated threats of death, threats of sexual violence and to the integrity of her son, attempted murder, defamation, harassment, and intimidation.
On 25 August 2013, her home was broken into by a mixed group of police, marines and soldiers, who robbed the family's belongings, and which resulted in the detention of her husband and leader of the organisation, Librado Baños Rodríguez. Two other leaders of the organisation, Felipe Rojas and Teófilo García, were also detained in the months of August and September 2013. During their trial, there were allegations of torture against them, as well as allegations that their right to a fair trial was seriously violated.
The organisation's case has been before the Interamerican Commission for Human Rights (IACHR) and before the Human Rights Ombudsman of the People of Oaxaca, an organism which granted protection measures to Eva Lucero Rivero Ortiz and her organisation in September 2013. Despite this, the security situation of the human rights defender and members of UCIDEBACC remains volatile.
On 15 February 2014, at approximately 6pm, human rights defender Eva Lucero Rivero Ortiz received two text message threatening her with death after her attendance at a meeting with Oaxacan state officials.
Eva Lucero Rivero Ortiz is the spokesperson for the Unión Cívica Democrática de Barrios Colonias y Comunidades – UCIDEBACC (Civic and Democratic Union of Neighbourhoods, Settlements and Communities). UCIDEBACC works against the construction of a “Coppell” department store on municipal land in Pinotepa, Nacional, Oaxaca.
The messages that the human rights defender received on 15 February 2014 said, amidst other offensive and sexual language, “I'm waiting for you here....you are going to die” and “you want to die”. Both messages came from the same number.
The day before, on the 14 February 2014, women human rights defenders María Dolores Merino Ortiz, Reina Clavel Tapia, Cinthia Narciso Bernal and an underage girl, all members of UCIDEBACC, were gravely injured after being beaten by members of the State Preventative Police during a peaceful demonstration in Pinotepa. According to information received, one of the defenders is pregnant and has serious injuries as a consequence of the blows she received.
These incidents come in the context of constant and systematic attacks against Eva Lucero Rivero Ortiz and her organisation. Between June and August 2013, the human rights defender suffered multiple acts of intimidation, defamation, harassment and threats as well as an attempt on her life. On 25 August 2013, her home was broken into by a mixed group of police, marines and soldiers, who robbed the family's various belongings, and which resulted in the detention of her husband and leader of the organisation, Librado Baños Rodríguez. Two other leaders of the organisation, Felipe Rojas and Teófilo García, were detained in the months of August and September 2013 under the same auspices. During their trial, there were allegations of torture against them, as well as allegations that their right to a fair trial was seriously violated. An appeal is underway in the case of Librado Baños Rodríguez.
The organisation's case has been before the Interamerican Commission for Human Rights (IACHR) and before the Human Rights Ombudsman of the People of Oaxaca, an organism which granted protection measures to Eva Lucero Rivero Ortiz and her organisation in September 2013. Despite this, the security situation of the human rights defender and members of UCIDEBACC remains volatile.
In Mexico, women human rights defenders and journalists frequently suffer specific attacks due to their gender, such as sexual violence and defamation campaigns based on gender stereotypes. There is a very high rate of impunity, more than 98%, for such attacks. Oaxaca is the state with the highest level of attacks against women human rights defenders and journalists in Mexico. There was a dramatic increase in attacks in 2013, with 91 aggressions documented compared to 48 in 2012.
Front Line Defenders urges the authorities in Oaxaca to:
Carry out a thorough, impartial and immediate investigation into the death threats against Eva Lucero Rivero Ortiz with a view to publishing the results and bringing those to justice in accordance with international standards;
Take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Eva Lucero Rivero Ortiz and her colleagues, including by reinforcing protection measures where necessary;
Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Oaxaca are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions.
