On October 1 2010 the Inter-American Court of Human Rights informed the Mexican state of its sentences in the cases of Inés Fernández Ortega and Valentina Rosendo Cantú. Both verdicts stated that in 2002 the indigenous Me´phaa women had been raped and tortured by members of the army in the state of Guerrero, Mexico.

On March 15 2011 the victims, their lawyers Tlachinollan Human Rights Centre, Organisation of the Indigenous Me´phaa People, the Center for Justice and International Law and entities of the Mexican state formed an action plan for the fulfillment of the court´s rulings. Additionally, on the March 17 2011 the General Attorney for Military Justice referred the investigation of these cases to the State General Attorney recognising the incompetence of the military justice to handle these cases.

However, the victims and their lawyers consider that one year after the issuing of the sentences the advances are either insufficient or nil. The working groups to carry out the agreements established on March 15 have not been reinstated and the inquiries continue without having been consigned a competent judge.

Shortly, the Mexican state, as part of the follow-up process of the sentencing, is obligated to send a report to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights detailing the advances and concrete actions that they have implemented during this year to fulfill the court´s rulings.

PBI has provided accompaniment to the Organisation of the Indigenous Me'phaa People, including Inés Fernández Ortega and Valentina Rosendo Cantú, since 2005, as well as the members of the Tlachinollan Human Rights Center of La Montaña since 2003.

More information:

Mexico Before The Inter-American Court (PBI Mexico Project Bulletin)