Mexican Women Human Rights Defenders Call for Full Investigation of Murder of Transgender Activist

Note: The Mexican Women Human Rights Defenders Network is made up of women activists from throughout the country and I am proud to be among its members. The Network coordinates rapid responses to attacks on women human rights defenders in the country, carries out studies and works on self-care and mutual protection and support. Unfortunately, we have been overwhelmed lately by the number of attacks and assassinations. Our hearts go out to the loved ones of Agnes and the other 16 defenders killed. Our community is saddened and lessened by their loss.

Five men have been arrested in the crime although investigation continues. 

International statements and sign-ons to the declaration below can be sent to: info@cipamericas.org

We repudiate and condemn the assassination of human rights defender Agnes Torres Hernandez and we call for an end to impunity.

We demand the Mexican government immediately solve the case of the assassination of the activist for defense of the human rights of the Lesbian, Gay, Transsexual and Bisexual community. 

Seventeen human rights defenders have been assassinated from 2010 to date, demonstrating the indifference of the government to guarantee the right to defend human rights. 

The national network of communications and urgent action of Women Human Rights Defenders in Mexico condems the MURDER of the woman human rights defender Agnes Torres Hernandez.

On April 10, 2012 the body of Agnes Torres Hernandez was found with signs of torture in the hillside of Xaxocuapatle, located a kilometer from the bridge that crosses Highway Siglo XXI of Puebla.

Agnes was a 28-year old psychologist and woman human rights defender from the Lesbian Gay community, who fought for laws to give legal standing to  trans people so they can modify their official documents according to their sexual identity, and thereby obtain equal employment and social opportunities.

She carried out activities on behalf of transgender people and also in academia. She graduated from the Psychology Department of the University of Veracruz in 2001, but could never receive her degree because her gender change was not recognized by the institution, which blocked her from completing the paperwork to enable her chosen name to appear on the degree.

In Puebla seven hate murders have been registered this year alone, including that of Agnes Torres Hernandez. The cases registered up to now in the state are characterized by impunity, or a lack of justice, since not no one has been arrested in any of the cases and investigations are stalled.

It is clear that the execution of Agnes Torres Hernandez took place in the context of harassment, persecution and intimidation aimed at stopping her from exercising her right to defend human rights. It is worth noting that this crime takes place in the framework of the past March 8 when Juan Pablo Castro Gamble, member of PAN youth, during the youth parliament organized by the Commission on Youth and Sports of the legislative Assembly criticize the PRD and the local government for approving laws that promote "marriage between queers."

Faced with the levels of violence and threats against human rights defenders, we demand that the Mexican State and the state of Puebla:

* Guarantee the right of women human rights defenders 

* An immediate halt to criminalization and violence against women and men human rights defenders

* Immediate and exhaustive investigation into the murder of Agnes Torres Hernandez and that those responsible for the crime be tried and punished.

Mexico, March 19, 2012

The National Network of Women Human Rights Defenders, Communication and Urgent Action

Alejandra Vela Garza (Alternativas Pacificas, Monterrey), Alicia Leal Puertas (Alternativas Pacíficas, DF), Aline Castellanos  (Oaxaca), Ana Karen López Quintana (Tamaulipas Diversidad Vihda Trans, Tamaulipas), Ana María Hernández (Consorcio para el Diálogo Parlamentario y la Equidad Oaxaca, Oaxaca), Alejandra Ancheita (Prodesc, DF), Alba Cruz (Oaxaca), Angélica Araceli Reveles  (CLADEM-México), Beatriz Casas (BARCA, Oaxaca), Beatriz Hernández Bautista (Circulo Profesional para la Formacion con Equidad de Género !Ndudxa Ndandi!), Blanca Martínez (Centro Diocesano para los Derechos Humanos “Fray Juan de Larios”, Coahulia), Blanca Mesina (CMDPDH, Baja California Norte), Blanca Velázquez (Centro de Apoyo al Trabajador, Puebla), Carolina Cantu (Coordinadora Guerrerense de Mujeres Indigenas y afromexicanas, Guerrero), Cecilia Espinosa Martínez (Red Mesa de Mujeres de Cd. Juárez, Cd. Juárez), Cecilia Oyorzabal Gómez (Timomatchtikan, Centro de Asesoría y Desarrollo entre Mujeres, Casa de la Mujer Indígena, Red Nacional de Asesoras y Promotoras Rurales, Puebla), Clemencia Correa (Consultora, DF), Consuelo Morales  (CADHAC, Nuevo León), Cristina Cruz López (Centro Regional de Derechos Humanos Bartolomé Carrasco “Barca”, Oaxaca), Cristina Hardága  (Tlachinollan, Guerrero), Daptnhe Cuevas (Consorcio para el Diálogo Parlamentario y la Equidad), Diana Damián (FOCA, Chiapas), Dolores González  (SERAPAZ, DF), Dora Avila (Centro para los derechos de la Mujer Nääxwiin), Edita Alavés (Mujeres Organizadas Yuubani, Oaxaca),  Elga Aguilar (Comité Cerezo, DF), Emelia Ortiz (Campaña Si no están ellas no estamos todas, Oaxaca), Felicitas Martínez Solano (coordinadora Regional de Autoridades Comunitarias policía comunitaria, Guerrero), Georgina Vargas Vera (CDH Victoria Diez, Guanajuato ), Guadalupe López (Lesbianas en Patlatonalli, Jalisco), Ileana Espinoza  (Red Mesa de Mujeres de Ciudad Juárez), Imelda Marrufo (Red Mesa de Mujeres de Cd. Juárez, Cd. Juárez), Irma Estrada Martinez  (Tribunal Internacional de Conciencia, DF), Ixchel Carrasco Arias (Enlace Comunicación y Capacitación, Guerrero), Josefina Chávez (Cuadernos Feministas, DF), Laura Carlsen (Programa de las Américas, DF), Laura García (Semillas, DF), Laura Gutiérrez (Mujeres Unidas: Olympia de Gouges, Baja California), Laura Velázquez (JASS, DF), Leticia Burgos (Red Feminista Sonorense, Sonora), Lidia Alpizar (AWID), Lucia Lagunés Huerta (México), Luz Estela Castro (Centro de Derechos Humanos de las Mujeres, Chihuahua), Margarita Guadalupe Martínez (Chiapas), María Elena Tapia Vázquez (Código DH, Oaxaca), María Rosa Guzmán Valdez (Red de Promotoras de Derechos Humanos de las Mujeres Indígenas en el Estado Jalisco, Jalisco), María Trinidad Ramírez (Frente de Pueblos en Defensa de la Tierra, Atenco), Martha Figueroa (Colem, Chiapas), Martha Graciela Ramos (Mujeres por México en Chihuahua, Chihuahua), Martha Pérez Pineda (Frente de Pueblos en Defensa de la Tierra, Atenco), Marusia López (JASS-Mesoamérica), Minerva Nora Martinez (BACRA, Oaxaca), Montserrat Díaz (Colectivo Feminista de Xalapa, Veracruz), Nadia Altamirano (CIMAC, Oaxaca), Nadia Maciel (Guerrero), Nadin Reyes (Comité de Familiares de Detenidos - Desaparecidos “Hasta Encontrarlos”, DF), Nora Bucio (CIMAC, Morelos), Obtilia Eugenio Manuel (Organización del Pueblo Indígena Me’phaa, Guerrero), Ofelia Cesáreo Sánchez (Coordinadora Guerrerense de Mujeres Indígenas y Afromexicanas, Guerrero), Orfe Castillo (JASS-Mesoamérica), Sandra Peniche (Servicios Humanitarios en Salud Sexual y Reproductiva, Yucatán), Sara Méndez  (Código DH, Oaxaca), Sandra Torres Pastrana (Red Defensoras México-Consorcio, Oaxaca), Silvia Castillo Salgado (Instituto Guerrerense de Derechos Humanos, Guerrero), Silvia Vázquez  (CMDPDH, Baja California Norte), Tania Ramírez (HIJOS-México, DF), Teresa Emeterio Martínez (Oaxaca), Theres Hoechli (Consorcio para el Diálogo Parlamentario y la Equidad Oaxaca, Oaxaca), Verónica Corchado (Colectiva: arte, comunidad y equidad, Grupo Articulación Justicia en Juárez, Cd. Juárez), Verónica Cruz (Las Libres, Guanajuato), Ximena Andión (EQUIS: Justicia para las Mujeres), Ximena Cortez  (Rosas Chillante, DF), Xóchitl Ramírez (Yotlakat Non Siwatl, Atzin Desarrollo Comunitario, Guerrero), Yanimiriam Valdez Baca (Centro de Derechos Humanos de las Mujeres, Chihuahua), Yenis Bernardino Rosendo (Guerrero), Yesica Sánchez Maya (Consorcio para el Diálogo Parlamentario y la Equidad Oaxaca, Oaxaca), Yunuhen Rangel Medina (Cimac, DF).

 
 

Human Rights: InterAmerican Commission condemns murder of activist Agnes Torres

Proceso: "The InterAmerican Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has condemned the murder of transgender activist, Agnes Torres Sulca, whose body bore signs of torture when it was discovered on Saturday, March 10 in a ravine in Puebla.

The regional body called on the Mexican government to "officially investigate such acts and punish those responsible." It recalled that Torres "contributed to various groups and, among other political actions, participated in the promotion of bills before the Congress of Puebla."

In a statement, the Commission recommended that the Mexican government "open lines of investigation that take into account whether the murder of Ms. Torres was committed because of her gender identity and/or because of her advocacy of human rights" for lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual (LGTBI) people.

The killing of Agnes Torres, said the component of Organization of American States, forces the Mexican government to "adopt, in an immediate and urgent way, all due measures for adequate protection of human rights of LGTBI people and those who defend their rights."

The Commission also reminded the government of Felipe Calderon that "defenders of organizations that promote the rights of LGTBI people play a key role in the region, both in the social regulation of the fulfillment of state obligations in general, and in the process of promoting the human rights of LGTBI people."

The Commission referred to its second report on the situation of human rights and human rights defenders in the Americas, in which it "pointed out the large amount of information received regarding killings, threats and criminalization of the activities of defenders of LGTBI people, as well as the absence of a differentiated approach to the investigation of violations of their human rights. "

According to the IACHR, the murders of LGTBI defenders are often reduced to "crimes of passion", without opening "logical lines of investigation that take into account whether the offense was committed because of gender identity or orientation of the victim."

It noted that the attacks against defenders as "retaliation for their activities" cause "a chilling effect" among those engaged in the same activities, while the State avoids the work that is "essential to building a solid, durable democratic society. The state has a leading role in the process of fully achieveing the rule of law and the strengthening of democracy. "" Spanish original

Human Rights Abuses: Robbery motive rejected by supporters of Agnes Torres

Proceso: "Members of the Front for Diverse Sexuality of Tehuacan (FDXST) rejected the robbery of her car as the motive for the crime against activist Agnes Torres Hernandez, which occurred on Saturday, March 10. The state attorney general (PGJ), Victor Carrancá Bourget, presented four subjects, and named five suspects, among them a minor, as the alleged perpetrators of the murder. On Monday, FCSXT spokesman, Victor Rodriguez Lezama, said it should not be assumed that Torres Hernández was murdered by a group of youth because they wanted to steal her car, because there are elements that suggest that this was a hate crime.

... He mentioned that the main indicator is signs of torture of the activist's body, specifically cigarette burns on various parts of the body, especially in the face. He added that another source of doubts about robbery as a motive for the crime is that accused did not even try to sell the VW Golf car that that they took away from Agnes, but, instead, set it on fire.

Another contradiction that activist's friends have noted is that the PGJ insists that one of the alleged perpetrators of the murder, Zechinelli Jorge Flores, 18 years old, was the boyfriend of Agnes for a few days, but her friends and people close to her were unaware of her having a relationship or a partner. "We believe this is being invented to justify it as a crime of passion, so as not to declare that it was a hate murder, as it appears to be from the facts," said Rodriguez Ledezma.

Meanwhile, the Citizens' Watch on Sexual and Reproductive Rights called on the prosecutor´s office to promptly clarify the case, and warned that it should not overlook features of the crime as one of homophobia.

"We see the motivation of the crime a clear case of transphobia. We think that the choice of the victim was due to her high state of vulnerability, due to her own condition as a transsexual. In a country and a state that do not legally recognize transgendered identity, where there is a high level of discrimination and stigma towards the lives and occupations of trans people, they are easy victims of criminals," the organization said in a statement. It added: "Based on studies of hate crimes, we speak of a hate crime when a person who is socially devalued and hated is the victim of a crime, especially one that takes her life."" Spanish original