México: expertos internacionales y regionales instan acción rápida para proteger a
defensores de los derechos humanos y periodistas
defensores de los derechos humanos y periodistas
GINEBRA / WASHINGTON D.C. – "Los asesinatos y amenazas repetidamente sufridos por defensores de derechos y periodistas en México deben detenerse inmediatamente," instó un grupo de cuatro expertos de las Naciones Unidas (ONU) y la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos (CIDH), llamando al Gobierno a avanzar en la promulgación rápida y aplicación efectiva de la 'Ley para la Protección de Personas Defensoras de Derechos Humanos y Periodistas'.
Destacando la inmediatez de las amenazas que enfrentan defensores y periodistas, los expertos también instaron al Gobierno a aplicar los mecanismos de protección existentes como un asunto urgente, a fin de evitar más ataques y pérdidas de vidas, y de complementar las nuevas disposiciones cuando entren en vigor.
El proyecto de ley, que ha sido aprobado por ambas cámaras del Congreso de la Unión, tiene por objeto garantizar y salvaguardar la vida, la integridad y la seguridad de defensores de los derechos humanos y periodistas mediante la creación de un mecanismo con la autoridad para aplicar medidas para proteger a las personas en riesgo, así como para prevenir que tales riesgos surjan en el futuro.
"Los defensores de derechos humanos en México necesitan desesperadamente la protección efectiva del Estado ahora", dijo Margaret Sekaggya, la Relatora Especial de la ONU sobre la situación de los defensores de derechos humanos. "Siguen sufriendo asesinatos, ataques, hostigamiento, amenazas, estigmatización y otras violaciones graves de derechos humanos".
"El Estado debe implementar, en forma prioritaria, una política de protección global para defensoras y defensores de derechos humanos. La falta de sistemas adecuados y eficaces para la implementación de medidas de protección especializadas está relacionada con la situación de indefensión en la que muchos defensores de derechos humanos se encuentran, la cual ha ocasionado que varios de ellos hayan perdido la vida en los últimos años", enfatizó Santiago A. Canton, el Secretario Ejecutivo de la CIDH en nombre de de la Relatoría sobre Defensoras y Defensores de Derechos Humanos*.
"Necesitamos romper el ciclo de impunidad en México, que se está convirtiendo en un lugar cada vez más violento para los periodistas", dijo Frank La Rue, el Relator Especial de la ONU sobre el derecho a la libertad de opinión y de expresión. "Los asesinatos recientes de cuatro trabajadores de la prensa en Veracruz subrayan la necesidad urgente de adoptar medidas concretas para garantizar la seguridad de los periodistas y poner fin a la impunidad".
Catalina Botero, Relatora Especial de la CIDH para la Libertad de Expresión, destacó que "salvaguardar a periodistas y defensores de derechos humanos no sólo es compatible con la lucha contra la delincuencia, es un elemento esencial de esta lucha. Las autoridades Mexicanas deben tomar medidas inmediatas para proteger a aquellos periodistas o defensores de derechos humanos que están siendo amenazados, así como avanzar decididamente en la lucha contra la impunidad de los crímenes cometidos".
Los cuatro expertos elogiaron al Congreso de la Unión por haber probado el proyecto de ley, indicando que proporcionaría un nuevo impulso y sostenibilidad a los marcos de protección existentes.
El proyecto de ley fue elaborado en consulta con organizaciones de la sociedad civil, y la Oficina del Alto Comisionado para los Derechos Humanos en México proporcionaba consejos técnicos durante el proceso de redacción.
Los expertos de derechos humanos elogiaron el proceso consultivo que permitió a múltiples partes interesadas a desempeñar un papel importante en la redacción del proyecto de ley, y pidieron el mismo enfoque participativo durante todo el proceso de aplicación. Sin embargo, hicieron hincapié en la urgencia de proporcionar una protección eficaz a aquellos en situación de riesgo y de asegurar que las violaciones de derechos humanos contra periodistas y defensores de derechos humanos no queden impunes.
(*) De conformidad con el Artículo 17(2)(a) del Reglamento de Procedimiento de la Comisión, el Comisionado José de Jesús Orozco Henríquez, de nacionalidad Mexicana, no participa en asuntos relacionados con dicho país.
FIN
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GENEVA / WASHINGTON D.C. (14 May 2012) – "The killings and threats repeatedly suffered by rights defenders and journalists in Mexico must stop immediately," urged a group of four experts from the United Nations and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, calling on the Government to move ahead with the swift promulgation and effective implementation of the 'Law for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Journalists'.
Highlighting the immediacy of the threats facing defenders and journalists, the experts also urged the Government to implement existing protection mechanisms as a matter of urgency, in order to avoid further attacks and loss of life and to complement the new provisions when they come into effect.
The Bill, which has been approved by both chambers of the Federal Congress, seeks to guarantee and safeguard the life, integrity and security of human rights defenders and journalists by creating a mechanism with the authority to implement measures to protect those at risk, as well as at preventing such risks from arising in the future.
"Human rights defenders in Mexico desperately need the State's effective protection now," said Margaret Sekaggya, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders. "They continue to suffer killings, attacks, harassment, threats, stigmatization and other serious human rights violations."
"The State has to implement, as a matter of priority, a global protection policy for human rights defenders. The lack of appropriate and effective systems for implementing specialized protection measures are related to the situation of defenselessness in which many human rights defenders find themselves, which has caused the death of many of them in recent years," stressed Santiago A. Canton, the Executive Secretary of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on behalf of the Rapporteurship of Human Rights Defenders*.
"We have to break the cycle of impunity in Mexico, which is becoming an increasingly violent place for journalists," said Frank La Rue, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. "The recent killing of four press workers in Veracruz underscores the dire need for concrete steps to be taken to guarantee the safety of journalists and put an end to impunity."
Catalina Botero, Special Rapporteur for freedom of expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, stressed that "safeguarding journalists and human rights defenders is not only compatible with the fight against crime, it is an essential element of this struggle. The Mexican authorities should take immediate measures to protect those journalists and human rights defenders that are being threatened, as well as to make definitive advances in the struggle against impunity for the crimes that have been committed against them."
The four experts commended the Federal Congress for approving the Bill, pointing out that it would provide added impetus and sustainability to existing protection frameworks, while also strengthening these frameworks.
The Bill was drafted in consultation with civil society organizations, and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Mexico provided technical advice throughout the drafting process.
The human rights experts praised the consultative process which allowed multiple stakeholders to play an important role in the drafting of the Bill, and called for the same participatory approach throughout the implementation process. However, they emphasized the urgency of providing effective protection to those at risk and ensuring that human rights violations against journalists and human rights defenders do not go unpunished.
(*) In keeping with Article 17(2)(a) of the Commission's Rules of Procedure, Commissioner José de Jesús Orozco Henríquez, of Mexican nationality, does not participate in matters concerning said country.
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NEWS RELEASE
Mexico: international and regional experts urge swift action to protect human rights defenders and journalists
Mexico: international and regional experts urge swift action to protect human rights defenders and journalists
GENEVA / WASHINGTON D.C. (14 May 2012) – "The killings and threats repeatedly suffered by rights defenders and journalists in Mexico must stop immediately," urged a group of four experts from the United Nations and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, calling on the Government to move ahead with the swift promulgation and effective implementation of the 'Law for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Journalists'.
Highlighting the immediacy of the threats facing defenders and journalists, the experts also urged the Government to implement existing protection mechanisms as a matter of urgency, in order to avoid further attacks and loss of life and to complement the new provisions when they come into effect.
The Bill, which has been approved by both chambers of the Federal Congress, seeks to guarantee and safeguard the life, integrity and security of human rights defenders and journalists by creating a mechanism with the authority to implement measures to protect those at risk, as well as at preventing such risks from arising in the future.
"Human rights defenders in Mexico desperately need the State's effective protection now," said Margaret Sekaggya, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders. "They continue to suffer killings, attacks, harassment, threats, stigmatization and other serious human rights violations."
"The State has to implement, as a matter of priority, a global protection policy for human rights defenders. The lack of appropriate and effective systems for implementing specialized protection measures are related to the situation of defenselessness in which many human rights defenders find themselves, which has caused the death of many of them in recent years," stressed Santiago A. Canton, the Executive Secretary of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on behalf of the Rapporteurship of Human Rights Defenders*.
"We have to break the cycle of impunity in Mexico, which is becoming an increasingly violent place for journalists," said Frank La Rue, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. "The recent killing of four press workers in Veracruz underscores the dire need for concrete steps to be taken to guarantee the safety of journalists and put an end to impunity."
Catalina Botero, Special Rapporteur for freedom of expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, stressed that "safeguarding journalists and human rights defenders is not only compatible with the fight against crime, it is an essential element of this struggle. The Mexican authorities should take immediate measures to protect those journalists and human rights defenders that are being threatened, as well as to make definitive advances in the struggle against impunity for the crimes that have been committed against them."
The four experts commended the Federal Congress for approving the Bill, pointing out that it would provide added impetus and sustainability to existing protection frameworks, while also strengthening these frameworks.
The Bill was drafted in consultation with civil society organizations, and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Mexico provided technical advice throughout the drafting process.
The human rights experts praised the consultative process which allowed multiple stakeholders to play an important role in the drafting of the Bill, and called for the same participatory approach throughout the implementation process. However, they emphasized the urgency of providing effective protection to those at risk and ensuring that human rights violations against journalists and human rights defenders do not go unpunished.
(*) In keeping with Article 17(2)(a) of the Commission's Rules of Procedure, Commissioner José de Jesús Orozco Henríquez, of Mexican nationality, does not participate in matters concerning said country.
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