Human Rights Violations: In 2011, Mexican Commission on Human Rights received 29 complaints of attacks on activists

Translated by CIP intern Michael Kane

La Jornada: "This past year, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) received 59 complaints related to aggression committed against human rights defenders, the majority of which were related to violations of rights to life, integrity, security, assembly, circulation, due process, property, and freedom of expression.

In a press release, the organization, led by Raúl Plascencia Villanueva, indicated that these types of attacks not only hinder the activists’ daily work, but also their physical and psychological health and that of their families.  Based on the above, the NHRC requested the implementation of precautionary measures in 16 cases, including that of Norma Andrade, founder of the organization May Our Daughters Return Home, who this past February 3 was the target of another attack, despite the supposed protection provided by elements of the Attorney General in the capital.

In all cases, said the organization, complaints have been followed up on, data has been requested from the authorities, interviews conducted with the aggrieved and the previous inquiries reviewed in order to assure they were completed in an adequate manner.

The NHRC emphasized the duty of public servants to provide prompt, professional attention to those who have been victims of a crime and clear it up so as to put an end to impunity." Spanish original