Washington, DC - April 17, 2013. During a speaking tour to the U.S. Capital, PBI presented the publication "A Panorama of the Defense of Human Rights in Mexico: Initiatives and Risks of Mexican Civil Society" in the U.S. Congress and to interested members of the public, with the participation of human rights defenders from Mexico. From April 14th to 18th, PBI Mexico representative Ben Leather is in Washington DC to meet with members of the Congress, the State Department, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), as well as U.S. and international lawyers and members of NGO.

On Monday April 15th, PBI co-organized a briefing titled "Defending Human Rights in Mexico: Threats, Challenges and Opportunities" along with the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), the Latin American Working Group, (LAWG). Alberto Xicotencatl, director of the Saltillo Migrant Shelter (Coahuila), and Silvia Grijalva, a member of the Human Rights Center “Paso del Norte” (Chiahuahua), spoke at the event held in the U.S. House of Representatives and attended by representatives of Congress, North-American NGOs, the State Department and the American Bar Association. Ms. Grijalva and Mr. Xicotencatl explained the challenges and risks of their work related to cases of torture, forced disappearance, kidnapping and violence against migrants, human trafficking and the impact of the "war on drugs" on the social fabric of Mexico.

Mr. Leather shared some of the results of the exploratory mission performed by the PBI Mexico Project in 2012, including information in the publication "A Panorama of the Defense of Human Rights in Mexico: Initiatives and Risks of Mexican Civil Society". The report explains the work and the risks faced by Mexican HRDs through 25 case studies in six states of the Mexican Republic as well as the experience PBI has gained in its 12 years of international accompaniment work in Guerrero, Oaxaca and Mexico City. Moreover, as April is the first anniversary of the adoption of the Law for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Journalists, Mr. Leather emphasized the need for a full and complete implementation of the legislative framework, which offers the opportunity to provide effective protection to both populations particularly vulnerable to aggression related to their work. PBI also screened the video "The Duty to Protect" which highlights key points of the process.

On April 17th, WOLA, PBI Mexico and LAWG convened a public event "Defending Defenders: An Evening of Dialogue and Music with Mexican Human Rights Activists" during which Mr. Xicotenclatl and Ms. Grijalva, discussed human rights issues in the neighboring country and PBI presented the new publication. Starting in the middle of 2013, PBI will follow up on the work of these and other human rights organizations in the north of Mexico through the installation of a new field team, which will cover the states of Coahuila and Chihuahua.

What can be done?

• The Mexican Government must act to guarantee the protection of HRDs (in particular by implementing the recommendations made in "A Panorama of the Defense of Human Rights in Mexico: Initiatives and Risks of Mexican Civil Society" and by ensuring a proper implementation of the Protection Mechanism for HRDs and Journalists.
• US President Barack Obama must ensure that human rights, and protection of HRDs, are discussed with his counterpart Enrique Peña Nieto during his visit to Mexico in May, and ought to meet with civil society organisations to discuss the human rights challenges facing the country.
• The US Government should monitor HRD security and the investigation of crimes against them, and condition cooperation according to advances in these areas.
• The US Embassy in Mexico should continue its good initiatives in support of HRDs, such as its visits to their offices and its round tables, and should consider holding human rights forums or round tables on specific pressing human rights issues such as migrant rights and public security and human rights.
• US Congresspeople should sign the dear colleague letter regarding human rights in Mexico (and which covers the protection of HRDs), should hold a hearing on human rights in Mexico (which includes the protection of HRDs) and should organise a delegation to Mexico to look at human rights issues (including the protection of HRDs).

More information

PBI launches its new report at round tables for HRDs, Mexican authorities and the diplomatic corps, PBI Mexico News, April 8, 2013.

Briefing, The implementation of the Law on Protection for Persons Human Rights Defenders and Journalists, April 2013.