Human Rights Abuses: Mexican government failed to fulfill agreement to protect Norma Andrade

La Jornada: "The Secretariat of Government (SG) failed to fulfill the agreement made last December to provide protection for activist Esther Norma Andrade. Since coming to Mexico City after suffering an attack in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, the activist lacked the necessary measures to safeguard her physical integrity, contrary to the orders of the Interamerican Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), said the lawyer for the organization Our Daughters Return Home, Karla Michel Salas.

After being discharged from the hospital yesterday, after a knife attack outside her home (in Mexico City), Norma Andrade and her family discussed the possibility of leaving the Federal District and even leaving the country, in the absence of State authority able to ensure their safety.

Michel Salas recalled that for a month and a half before Andrade came to Mexico City, as part of the precautionary measures issued by the IACHR,  protection by the Secretariat of Government (Interior Matters) was asked for the human rights defender, and the secretariat promised to provide an escort, which did not happen.

It was not until after the attack, last Friday morning that she she was guarded by officers from the capital city and federal police. Only the government of Mexico City has expressed its commitment to provide her with   permanent protection, said Malu Garcia, daughter of the activist.

Ms. Michel-Salas explained that, since 2004, members of Our Daughters Return Home have been victims of threats and attacks at least 30 times, which in most cases have been reported to authorities in Chihuahua and the federal Attorney General's Office (PGR), but until now, those responsible have not been caught." Spanish original