The Network of Female Activists and Human Rights Defenders of Oaxaca announced that, from January 1st to date, 38 attacks on 17 defenders, three journalists, and 5 women’s organizations and/or groups have been recorded in Oaxaca. Those statistics make this the state with the highest number of attacks on women human rights defenders and journalists in Mexico, according to data from the Register of the National Network of Female Human Rights Defenders in Mexico (RNDDHM).
The Network is particularly concerned about the exponential increase in attacks on female journalists that was recorded during the month of May in the state of Oaxaca. It also indicates that impunity in the cases of attacks on women human rights defenders and journalists contributes to increase their reproduction.
Therefore, the network asks the government to “guarantee the exercise of the right to defend human rights including the right to information and freedom of expression; the recognition of danger and specific attacks suffered by female human rights defenders and journalists; the design and immediate implementation of preventive and protective measures, in consultation with female defenders and journalists in response to their needs; the prompt investigation and punishment of those responsible for the attacks against the journalists Citlalli Lopez and Alejandra Janet Martinez, as well as in all the attacks against female HR defenders and journalists. “
For more information (in Spanish):
Oaxaca: Primer lugar en ataques a mujeres defensoras de DH y periodistas (Página 3, 23 de mayo de 2014)
Oaxaca, primer lugar en ataques a defensoras de DH y periodistas (Ciudadanía Express, 23 de mayo de 2014)
For more information from SIPAZ:
Oaxaca: One of the most violent and dangerous states for the exercise of journalism (May 16, 2014)
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