Further Threats Against Human Rights lawyers in Mexico Must be Ended
and Fully Investigated

Human Rights First is extremely concerned about ongoing threats against lawyers and other individuals connected to the Digna Ochoa case. During a recent mission to Mexico, a representative from Human Rights First met with Bárbara Zamora, a former colleague of Digna and lawyer representing the Ochoa family. During the course of this meeting, Ms. Zamora described a threat that she had received by e-mail, on March 18. The form of this threat was similar to threats received in 1996 by Digna Ochoa and Pilar Noriega, a human rights defender and criminal defense lawyer who is now a senior investigator at Mexico City's Human Rights Commission.

Bárbara Zamora and other Mexican human rights lawyers are the subjects of protective measures ordered by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in October 2001, shortly after the death of Digna Ochoa. In a subsequent meeting on November 23, between Ms. Zamora and representatives of the Mexican government, the implementation of these protective measures was discussed. The Ministry of Interior, through its special representative tasked with the protection of threatened human rights defenders, agreed to place a guard outside Ms. Zamora's office and to examine the possibility of installing a closed-circuit television system, as requested by Ms. Zamora.

Human Rights First has written to officials within the Ministry of Interior, urging them to fully implement the protective measures ordered by the Inter-American Court and discussed at the November 23 meeting, and in particular to move expeditiously to install a closed-circuit television in Ms. Zamora's office. In addition, Human Rights First has written to the Attorney General of Mexico City, who had initiated an investigation of the threat, to call for a thorough investigation and prosecution of those responsible. The Attorney General's office responded that the investigation would be carried through to conclusion.

We continue to monitor this investigation as well as the situation of lawyers and other human rights defenders who have been the targets of threats and intimidation for many years. Acts of violence and intimidation directed against human rights defenders must be ended, through ensuring that all persons responsible are brought promptly to justice.