Background Information on
Murder of Digna Ochoa

Human Rights First is outraged by the murder of our friend and colleague, Digna Ochoa, who was shot to death on October 19, in her Mexico City office. This killing was carried out after a lengthy campaign of intimidation and violence aimed at Digna and her former colleagues at the Centro de Derechos Humanos Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez (Prodh), a campaign that we have monitored with increasing concern over the past five years. On several occasions Human Rights First and other human rights organisations have called upon the Mexican government for protection for the PRODH and a full investigation into the acts of violence and intimidation levelled against it. Due to the lack of proper investigation into these incidents, Human Rights First and the Center for Justice and International Law petitioned the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights for protective measures from the Inter-American Court. In November 1999, the Court ordered the Mexican government to adopt all measures necessary to protect the life and safety of Digna Ochoa and PRODH colleagues Edgar Cortéz Morales, Mario Patrón Sánchez and Jorge Fernández Mendiburu. However, the threats persisted. No one was charged or brought to justice for carrying out the acts of violence and intimidation.

The PRODH is an independent human rights organization based in Mexico City, which has been targeted for threats, harassment and attacks, since 1995. Digna Ochoa, who worked at the PRODH as a legal adviser until 2000, was herself the subject of abduction, physical violence, death threats and other forms of intimidation, apparently in response to her continued work to represent individuals accused of involvement in the Zapatista insurgency in Chiapas, and two prominent ecologists - Rodolfo Montiel and Teodoro Cabrera.

Chronology of attacks (Human Rights First Archives)

In August 1996, Digna Ochoa and Pilar Noriega, both lawyers working at the PRODH, received written death threats left at the PRODH offices. [See Human Rights First statements, August and September 1996.] This occurred again in October 1996, along with a threat directed against another PRODH staff member, [see Human Rights First statement, October 1996] and once more in November of that year. At that time, the Mexican Attorney-General promised to fully investigate and arrange official protection for PRODH staff. [See Human Rights First statement, November 1996.] These threats occurred in the context of other similar incidents directed against human rights organisations and defenders, into 1997. [See Human Rights First statement, February 1997.] In May 1997, the PRODH office in Mexico City was surrounded by a number of unidentified persons, carrying weapons, and kept under surveillance. This blatant monitoring of the office and of the movements of its staff, was undoubtably intended to further intimidate them and prevent them from meeting with international human rights observers. [See Human Rights First Advocacy Alert, May 1997.]

On August 9, 1999, Digna Ochoa was forced into a car by two men, struck in the stomach and threatened with death before being released. In early September of that year, she and other PRODH staff members received further written and telephone threats. [See Human Rights First statement] The written threats were left inside the PRODH offices, where they were found by PRODH members. In October 1999, Digna Ochoa's home was broken into twice. On the first occasion, her voter's registration card, which had been stolen from her during the incident on August 9, was placed inside her house. Subsequently, on the night of October 28, 1999, Digna was assaulted in her home and kept captive for several hourse. She was subjected to prolonged interrogation about the activities of the PRODH and then left, tied to her bed beside a gas valve, which was opened by her attackers in an attempt to asphyxiate her. The same night, the PRODH offices were broken into and ransacked. [See Human Rights First statement, November 1999 and letter to President Zedillo, October 29, 1999.]

In the light of these attacks, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights took the exceptional step of ordering provisional measures of protection on behalf of Digna Ochoa and three of her colleagues. As well as requiring the Mexican authorities to ensure the security of these four PRODH staff members, along with all other persons going to the PRODH offices, the Court ordered the government to take effective measures to investigate the attacks on the PRODH and prosecute the persons responsible. [See Order of the Court, November 17, 1999, Inter-Am. Ct. H.R. (Ser. E) No.2 (1999), At the government's request, the Court lifted the order in August 2001.]

In late 2000, after receiving further threats, Digna Ochoa moved to Washington DC, to work for the Center for Justice and International Law. She returned to Mexico City in early 2001 and continued her defense work. Her murder demonstrates the truth of what human rights groups have long asserted in Mexico - that without credible investigation of criminal acts, no-one is secure.