Trespassing and robbery of Yesica Sánchez Maya’s property
On 5 January 2018, an unknown individual forcibly entered the home of Yesica Sánchez Maya, located in Oaxaca, stealing her IT and security materials, including computer, screens, a video camera and a wifi modem.
Yesica Sánchez Maya is a woman human rights defender and member of the executive team at Consorcio para el Diálogo Parlamentario y la Equidad Oaxaca, a feminist organisation with 15 years of experience working in Oxaca, promoting the recognition, respect and exercise of women’s human rights and gender equality. The organisation also promotes the work of civil society networks, and carries out human rights capacity building and training for women about democratic participation in society.
On 5 January 2018, an unknown individual forcibly entered the home of Yesica Sánchez Maya, located in Oaxaca, stealing her IT and security materials, including computer, screens, a video camera and a wifi modem.
On 5 January 2018, an unknown individual cut the security fence, deactivated the security alarms, broke into Yesica Sánchez Maya’s home and stole IT and security materials belonging to the defender. The defender reported this security incident to the authorities, who took a statement and conducted a preliminary investigation in her property but neglected to notify her of any further developments.
This attack is just one of the various aggressions against members of Consorcio para el Diálogo Parlamentario y la Equidad Oaxaca. Since December 2016, the homes, offices and cars of members of the organisation have been robbed at least six times. There has been a noticeable trend of assailants stealing informdation and equipment belonging to the organisation. The organisation’s members believe that the robberies are solely motivated by the organisation’s legitimate and peaceful work in women’s rights initiatives. Moreover, there is constant surveillance of the organisation’s headquarters by unknown men, unknown vehicles and by traffic police; and the organisation’s digital communications have been tapped.
Since 2012, members of Consorcio para el Diálogo Parlamentario y la Equidad Oaxaca are beneficiaries of precautionary measures, granted by the Oxaca Ombudsperson Office (Defensoría de los Derechos Humanos del Pueblo de Oaxaca). However, these precautionary measures have not been effective. Regardless of the many communications the beneficiaries have sent to the protection mechanism stating the risks they face everyday, the authorities have attempted to revoke those measures several times, most recently on 17 January 2018. Furthermore, the organisation has submitted nine criminal complaints to the protection mechanism regarding the attacks against them. So far, only one complaint has been properly judged and sanctioned, five have been filed, and investigations into the remaining three have not yielded any results.
These attacks in Oaxaca are reflective of a systematic pattern of harassment and intimidation against human rights defenders in Mexico. The lack of effective investigations into the attacks, and the failure to sanction the perpetrators and provide adequate protection to human rights defenders generates a climate of impunity that prevents human rights work.
Front Line Defenders condemns the acts of intimidation and harassment against Yesica Sánchez Maya and all members of Consorcio para el Diálogo Parlamentario y la Equidad Oaxaca. Moreover, Front Line Defenders is concerned about the climate of impunity and the lack of a safe environment for human rights defenders in Mexico.
Front Line Defenders urges the authorities in Mexico to:
- Take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Yesica Sánchez Maya and all members of Consorcio para el Diálogo Parlamentario y la Equidad Oaxaca, as part of the precautionary measures compliance.
- Carry out an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the attacks against all members of Consorcio para el Diálogo Parlamentario y la Equidad Oaxaca with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards;
- Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Mexico are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions.
