Three activists and journalists killed; Dozens detained and injured on International Women's Day

Introduction

Violence escalates as local elections approach

In January 2024, pre-campaign activities for local elections across various states saw a surge in targeted violence against political figures, with attacks doubling in February, and ACLED recording 34 incidents, primarily in Guerrero and Michoacán. In Michoacán, two mayoral candidates in Maravatío were killed, while in Guerrero, a mayoral candidate was attacked, and four civil servants were killed. Security experts link these attacks to criminal groups attempting to influence the electoral process. The violence reflects broader criminal conflicts in Guerrero, where groups are competing over extortion rackets and control of gold mines.

Mexico’s human rights record in focus as UN calls for stronger protections

In January 2024, the UN Human Rights Council reviewed Mexico during the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). The UPR is a UN process that reviews the human rights records of all member states (A/HRC/56/9). Notably, the country received some recommendations on civic space freedoms, such as:

• Strengthening legal and institutional protections: Various countries have recommended establishing and reinforcing public policies, national strategies and federal mechanisms to ensure a safe and respectful environment for journalists and human rights defenders. Additionally, calls to implement recommendations from the OHCHR to improve Mexico’s Federal Protection Mechanism aim to safeguard these groups more effectively.
• Ensuring Accountability and Justice: Recommendations included increasing the resources and capacity of public prosecutors, especially the Special Prosecutor’s Office for Crimes against Freedom of Expression, to address these issues effectively. Investigating illegal surveillance and upholding independence in these cases are also highlighted.
• Upholding Freedom of Expression: Recommendations urged Mexico to harmonise its laws with international human rights standards, ensuring that journalists and defenders can work without fear of reprisals or censorship. Strengthening the legal framework and taking legislative measures to protect freedom of expression.

Mexico suspends diplomatic ties with Ecuador after forcible entry at Mexican embassy

On 5th April 2024, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced the suspension of diplomatic ties with Ecuador after Ecuadorian police forcibly entered the Mexican embassy in Quito and arrested former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas, who faces charges of illicit association and bribery. The incident followed Ecuador’s decision to expel Mexican Ambassador Raquel Serur due to López Obrador’s earlier comments on Ecuador’s political climate.

Ecuadorian authorities defended their actions, citing Glas’s flight risk and legal restrictions under international conventions against granting asylum to those convicted of common crimes. Ecuador’s Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld criticised López Obrador’s statements as interference, prompting Ecuador to declare Ambassador Serur persona non grata under the Vienna Convention. In response, the Organisation of American States condemned the violation of the embassy’s inviolability and called for dialogue. Several Latin American nations also condemned Ecuador’s actions, expressing solidarity with Mexico.

Association

Indigenous Nahua leader and land defender killed

On 17th May 2024, armed men identified as members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) fatally shot Antonio Regis Nicolás, an Indigenous Nahua leader and land defender. The attack occurred while Regis Nicolás was returning to his home in Aquila, Michoacán. During the journey, an armed group dressed in military attire and bearing CJNG insignia intercepted them. The group forcibly separated Regis Nicolás from his family and, after identifying his affiliation with the Santa María Ostula community, shot him multiple times, resulting in his death shortly afterwards.

As a member of the community council, he worked to maintain communal order and protect the community’s lands from criminal groups and external interests, including entities seeking to engage in mining and resource exploitation.

The Nahua Indigenous community of Santa María Ostula previously alerted national authorities about the high-risk conditions they face, citing frequent attacks, threats, disappearances and killings by organised criminal groups that continually invade their territory. The community reported that these groups had established surveillance on access routes, severely restricting safe passage. Community members assert that both federal and state authorities are aware of these risks but have yet to implement effective measures to address them.

Front Line Defenders expressed deep concern over the killing of Regis Nicolás. The organisation condemned the ongoing threats faced by human rights defenders within the Nahua community of Santa María Ostula, attributing these threats to their legitimate human rights work in the face of armed criminal groups targeting community members.

In 2023, Mexico experienced significant violence against environmental and land defenders, with 20 people killed and at least 19 reported missing, according to the Centro Mexicano de Derecho Ambiental (CEMDA). Indigenous communities were particularly affected, accounting for 60 per cent of the victims. Michoacán recorded the highest number of lethal attacks, with seven murders, followed by Guerrero with six and Oaxaca and the State of Mexico with two each. Jalisco reported the most aggression events overall.

Break-in at human rights organisation’s offices in Oaxaca

On 29th April 2024, unknown people reportedly raided the premises of the organisation Conservation, Research and Sustainable Use of Natural Resources (CIARENA) in Oaxaca. This incident obstructed efforts to enhance security measures linked to the advocacy work of human rights defender Silvia Pérez Yescas and her team. Pérez Yescas and CIARENA have been actively addressing cases of Indigenous women reporting abuses of power, extortion and sexual harassment.

As the founder of CIARENA, Pérez Yescas has a history of receiving threats and facing attacks due to her human rights work. In 2014, Amnesty International reported that she received death threats related to her advocacy for Indigenous rights in Oaxaca. Additional threats emerged in 2015 against her and members of CIARENA, underscoring the ongoing risks tied to their activities.

In a separate case, on 27th and 31st May 2024, the Comprehensive Defence of Human Rights Committee Gobixha AC (CODIGODH) reported a break-in and robbery at their offices in Oaxaca de Juárez. The intruders stole laptops, cameras, cash and other valuable items. The organisation expressed concern over this incident, highlighting that it compromises their privacy, endangers sensitive information and poses risks to their team and the victims they support. They viewed this act as an obstruction of their efforts in pursuing justice, truth and reparation.

In response, CODIGODH called on authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and is requesting protective measures to ensure the safety of their offices and staff dedicated to human rights defence in Oaxaca.

Attacks, death threats, hacking and intimidation against HRDs

From March to May 2024, several human rights defenders in Mexico faced attacks, death threats and intimidation:

• On 21st March, human rights defender Pascuala López López was reportedly assaulted while walking home with her granddaughters. An unknown man allegedly exited a vehicle, threatened her life and physically pushed her, referencing her human rights advocacy. When she activated her emergency alert device, the assailant forcibly took it from her. As her granddaughters screamed, neighbours intervened, prompting the assailant to state, “Even if you report me, they won’t be able to put me in jail. I will kill you.” López López reported the incident to the Centre for Justice for Women and the Indigenous Prosecutor’s Office of the State of Chiapas. Since 2020, López López has faced multiple serious attacks by members of a criminal group active in the Cuxtitalli el Pinar Ejido. These incidents are in retaliation for her pursuit of justice following the murder of her son by presumed members of the same group in February 2020.
• On 13th May, members of Comité Cerezo México reported being subjected to illegal surveillance, with one member receiving a threat, allegedly by state agents. The organisation called for an investigation to hold those accountable for these incidents.
• On 22nd May, human rights defender Ana Laguna, a member of the Centro de Derechos Humanos Zeferino Ladrillero (CDHZL), was reportedly threatened with death when a firearm was pointed at her while she was en route to her work, which is linked to advocacy against child sexual abuse. Despite notifying the Protection Mechanism for Human Rights Defenders and Journalists and requesting urgent protection, no measures were provided. CDHZL demanded immediate and effective protection for Ms. Laguna.
• On 30th May, José Antonio Lara Duque, Director of CDHZL, experienced a WhatsApp hack that led to the loss of access to his account and deletion of messages. The incident was not considered a common criminal act, as no fraudulent messages were sent to his contacts.
• On 30th May, human rights defender Kenia Hernández, currently incarcerated, was reportedly subjected to a severe physical assault by a fellow inmate. It is alleged that prison security staff may have acquiesced in this incident. Following the assault, Hernández received medical attention in the prison infirmary. She has been detained since October 2020, facing multiple charges related to her activism. In March 2022, she was sentenced to 11 years and 3 months’ imprisonment on charges of “robbery with violence,” a conviction that several human rights organisations have contested.

President of Mexico targets civil society

The recent public statements by the President of Mexico regarding the Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas Human Rights Centre (Frayba) have raised concerns about the stigmatisation of human rights organisations. On 22nd April 2024, in response to a question about security in Chiapas, the President referenced Frayba and other human rights organisations, suggesting that they “exaggerate” reports of violence due to ideological differences. He claimed that these organisations oppose electoral reform and implied that their stance of abstention might contribute to a misleading perception of violence.

In a subsequent press conference, the President mentioned Frayba again, asserting that they have “taken sides” with conservative elements opposed to his administration. He associated Frayba’s advocacy with actions that he suggested might, intentionally or otherwise, support “oligarchic” parties, noting Frayba’s abstenist stance in political matters.

Founded over 35 years ago, Frayba has a longstanding reputation for documenting human rights abuses in Chiapas, providing advocacy and raising awareness on behalf of victims of serious violations. The centre has been a crucial voice for justice and human rights, recognised nationally for its role in addressing these issues.

In response, human rights organisations condemned the President’s remarks as harmful to the protection and integrity of human rights defenders. They called for an immediate halt to targeting organisations and defenders, urging the government to publicly acknowledge the essential role such organisations play in advocating for justice, human rights protection and peace-building efforts. They also stressed the need to strengthen legal protections and mechanisms for human rights defenders and journalists in Mexico.

Acquittal in landmark case for Indigenous rights in Tehuantepec

On 14th May 2024, a federal judge revoked the 46-year sentence previously imposed on David Hernández Salazar, a land defender and member of the Assembly of Indigenous Peoples of the Isthmus in Defence of Land and Territory (APIIDTT). Hernández Salazar was acquitted of charges linked to his peaceful protest against the “Polo de Desarrollo” project on common lands in El Pitayal, part of the Inter-Oceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.

Previously, on 7th February 2024, the Salina Cruz Judge of Control sentenced him to 46 years and 6 months in prison and substantial fines for alleged damages by fire and malicious injury. This incident reportedly occurred while he was en route to a community radio station to report harassment he had faced due to his advocacy for El Pitayal.

The judge’s decision also included dismissing criminal proceedings against 17 members of the Binniza Indigenous Community of Puente Madera, who were facing arrest warrants as part of the same case. However, tensions reportedly persist between the Puente Madera community and both State agents and criminal groups due to the community’s stance on defending their territory from development projects.

Peaceful Assembly

Protesters and police clash on International Women’s Day

On 8th March 2024, thousands gathered across Mexico to participate in demonstrations commemorating International Women’s Day. These gatherings, marked by chants for unity and denunciations of gender-based violence, underscored the persistent issues of gender violence within the country. According to Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), over 40 per cent of women aged 15 and older have reported experiencing violence during childhood. The scale of gender violence is further highlighted by statistics indicating that nearly ten women were killed each day throughout 2023.

In Mexico City, the protests culminated in the Zócalo, where hundreds of police officers were stationed behind reinforced metal barriers. Protesters directed plastic cups, debris, flashbangs and purple smoke flares toward the barriers and occasionally engaged in taunting behaviour through the gaps in the fencing, including pushing cardboard banners set alight. Police authorities reported the seizure of various objects from the crowd, including Molotov cocktails, bats, hammers and fireworks. Local media indicated that two protesters sustained injuries during an incident involving the shattering of a glass bus stop, reportedly while attempting to vandalise it.

In Monterrey, Nuevo León, protesters gathered in significant numbers, resulting in clashes with riot police. During these incidents, protesters reportedly set fire to a door and window at the Government Palace of Nuevo León. Following these events, five women were detained by local authorities.

In connection with these protests, Amnesty International documented allegations of excessive force and arbitrary detentions in at least ten Mexican states, including Chihuahua, Mexico City, Colima, State of Mexico, Morelos, Oaxaca, Puebla, Zacatecas, Michoacán and Nuevo León. Reports from activists and media sources indicated that irritant gases were deployed in several locations, such as Chihuahua, Mexico City, Colima, State of Mexico, Morelos, Oaxaca, Puebla, and Zacatecas. Additional reports from Michoacán stated that protesters were subjected to physical assault. In Zacatecas, authorities detained 12 women protesters and at least two women journalists (see expression), while they were participating in peaceful demonstrations.

Six days later, on 12th March, students from the Ayotzinapa Normal School held a protest at the Guerrero State Prosecutor’s Office in Chilpancingo. The demonstration resulted in at least 24 members of the National Guard sustaining injuries, as protesters allegedly threw firecrackers and homemade explosives in an attempt to gain entry to the prosecutor’s office. These actions reportedly caused shrapnel injuries among the security forces, who had taken cover within the facility. Additionally, 11 vehicles were set on fire during the confrontation.

The protest was sparked by the escape of a state police officer implicated in the death of Yanqui Kothan Gómez, an Ayotzinapa student. The Guerrero State Prosecutor’s Office issued a statement condemning the “unjustified attacks” on its facilities, affirming that the office had acted impartially and in accordance with legal protocols, and emphasised its respect for the rights of the victim’s family members.

The Ayotzinapa case, involving the disappearance of 43 student teachers from Ayotzinapa Rural Teachers’ College in September 2014, remains a significant point of contention and ongoing social unrest in Mexico.

Protesters clash with police in Pro-Palestine demonstration

On 28th May, over 200 people participated in a street protest titled “Urgent Action for Rafah” outside the Israeli Embassy in Mexico City. The demonstration was organised in response to an Israeli airstrike targeting a displacement camp near Rafah, Gaza, reportedly resulting in 45 deaths. Some protesters, with covered faces, attempted to dismantle barriers placed to block entry to the embassy grounds, throwing stones at riot police deployed for security. In response, police used tear gas and threw back stones to disperse the crowd.

Expression

Journalist and broadcaster found dead after abduction

On 26th April 2024, armed men abducted journalist Roberto Carlos Figueroa shortly after he dropped his daughters off at school in Cuernavaca, Morelos. Later that day, Figueroa’s captors contacted his wife multiple times to demand a ransom, which was subsequently paid. Despite this, Figueroa was found deceased that evening in his vehicle in Coajomulco, approximately 25 miles south of Mexico City. Figueroa was the founder and editor of Acá en el Show, a satirical news outlet known for its critical commentary on local politics, including coverage of Morelos Governor Cuauhtémoc Blanco.

On the day of his abduction, Figueroa posted a video suggesting he possessed information on alleged corruption involving candidates for the upcoming 2nd June elections. Although no recent threats against him were reported, his office experienced two break-ins in late 2023, with no items reportedly stolen. During a press conference on 29th April 2024, Morelos State Prosecutor Uriel Carmona Gándara indicated that Figueroa’s killing might be connected to his journalism, though he provided no further details.

On 6th May 2024, broadcaster Martín Antonio Olivier Rodríguez was reported missing by his relatives. The following day, his body was discovered in a taxi in Ajalpan, Puebla, exhibiting signs of violence. Rodríguez was an announcer for the community radio station “La que más suena 91.7 FM” in Ajalpan. In addition to his broadcasting role, he worked as a taxi driver. Local reports indicated that his body was found near the taxi he operated, with evidence of gunshot wounds and other injuries. Authorities have initiated an investigation into his death.

The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression (SRFOE) of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) called for Mexican authorities’ immediate and transparent investigation: “The Office of the Special Rapporteur condemns the crime against journalist Roberto Carlos Figueroa and broadcaster Martín Antonio Olivier Rodríguez, and calls on the competent Mexican authorities to conduct a diligent, exhaustive, effective and impartial investigation in order to clarify the facts, find those responsible, and prevent these crimes from going unpunished. This presupposes the identification and exhaustion of all possible criminal hypotheses linking the murders to the professional practice of the victims.”

Journalist attacked while covering International Women’s Day

On 8th March, thousands gathered to commemorate International Women’s Day nationwide (see peaceful assembly). During these demonstrations, reports indicated that at least 19 journalists, including seven women, were assaulted while covering the marches.

In Michoacán, journalists documenting the march in Morelia faced aggression from certain protesters; one local reporter was sprayed with glue. In a separate incident, protesters reportedly shoved a journalist and forced her to stop recording on her mobile phone after she asserted her journalistic rights. In Tlaxcala, a correspondent for MILENIO reported being doused with water and chlorine and struck on the back of the head by a protester while covering the march.

Reports alleged that authorities committed 11 of these attacks. Incidents occurred across multiple states, with at least five women journalists and activists detained in Zacatecas.

The organisation Women Press Freedom called for the immediate release of detained journalists and urged the government to strengthen protections for press freedom, with a focus on safeguarding women in the field.

Journalist threatened amid safety concerns despite government protection

On 20th May 2024, unidentified assailants in a red truck drove past the residence of journalist Alberto Amaro Jordán in Apizaco, Tlaxcala, shouting death threats at his bodyguards, saying, “We’re going to kill you all.” Amaro, founder of La Prensa de Tlaxcala, has faced threats over several years and is enrolled in a government protection programme through Mexico’s Federal Mechanism for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Journalists.

Amaro suspected the threats may be linked to a 15th May 2024 investigation in Ocotlán, where he, alongside human rights activist Viridiana Baena Leyva, examined reports of clandestine graves. The timing coincides with the arrest of a former police officer and two women in Ocotlán for an alleged disappearance case.

“It is deeply concerning that reporter Alberto Amaro Jordán continues to receive brazen death threats, even as he is under the protection of the Mexican government. These threats are a clear sign of the violence that continues to plague the Mexican press,” said Jan-Albert Hootsen, CPJ’s Mexico representative.

Intimidation lawsuits

On 6th May 2024, two unidentified women visited the residence of journalist Claudia Amelia Solera, attempting to deliver a lawsuit demanding nearly 18 million pesos (USD $888,000) in moral damages. One of the women, who claimed to be a court clerk from the Twenty-Third Civil Court of Written Procedure in Mexico City, lacked formal identification. Filed by lawyer Mario Alberto Quiroz, the lawsuit pertains to a 2010 article in which Solera reported on alleged exploitative practices by a law firm targeting retirees. The amount demanded exceeds Mexico City’s legal cap for moral damages, suggesting the claim may function as an intimidation tactic rather than a legitimate legal action.

In a similar case, Four Cardinals Development México SA de CV filed a lawsuit against journalist and activist Fabiola Cortés Miranda, seeking 3.6 million pesos (USD 178,000) for alleged material damages and an additional 5 million pesos (USD 247,000) for purported serious moral damages. The lawsuit, served on 13th May 2024, is linked to Cortés Miranda’s reporting and legal advocacy concerning a land dispute in Quintana Roo, where Indigenous Mayan families alleged they were dispossessed of their land, “El Pocito,” for a real estate project by the company.

The company’s legal representative has requested that the court obtain Cortés Miranda’s financial details from the National Banking and Securities Commission to freeze her assets to secure the claimed damages. Additionally, the court received a petition to issue an arrest warrant to prevent Cortés Miranda from leaving the jurisdiction.