New threats against woman human rights defender Bessy Ríos

On 18 March 2020, online death threats were published against woman human rights defender Bessy Ríos, through an anonymous Twitter account. This is not the first time that the defender has received death threats on the online platform.

In a tweet, Bessy Ríos was threatened that attackers would contaminate her with the COVID-19 virus. The tweet also referred to the “souls of those who were aborted”, making it clear that the attack was based on her activism in defence of women’s rights.

Bessy Ríos is known in El Salvador for her use of social media to promote women’s rights, sexual diversity, freedom of expression, as well as the strengthening of peace and democracy in the country. She is an expert on feminism and regularly lectures on the topic.

Front Line Defenders has previously called for the protection of Bessy Ríos, as well as other women rights defenders threatened as a result of their peaceful human rights activities in El Salvador. Front Line Defenders notes with concern that women human rights defenders often face additional threats in relation to men, due to sexist social expectations that condemn their public positioning, which often result in misogynistic, sexist and degrading remarks. Front Line Defenders requests authorities in El Salvador to take all measures to ensure the protection of Bessy Ríos, as well as all women rights defenders in the country, and to ensure that they are not targeted amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.