Mexico: Investigate Attacks on Chihuahua Human Rights Defenders | Human Rights Watch

24.2.11

Mexico: Investigate Attacks on Chihuahua Human Rights Defenders | Human Rights Watch: "(Washington, DC) - Federal and state authorities should conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into a series of attacks on human rights defenders and their families in the state of Chihuahua, Human Rights Watch said today. The attacks point out the need for a federal system to protect human rights defenders and the importance of incorporating nongovernmental organizations in designing the program, Human Rights Watch said.

In the most recent attacks, on February 15 and 16, 2011, the homes of human rights defenders Mar�a Luisa Garc�a Andrade and Sara Salazar, both of whom worked with the organization Return our Daughters (Nuestras Hijas de Regreso a Casa), were set on fire in separate incidents.

'Human rights defenders in Chihuahua take on huge risks for themselves and their families by documenting grave abuses,' said Jos�Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch. 'How many more must be threatened, abducted, or killed before the government takes the steps necessary to keep them safe?'"