October 31, 2003
The Honorable Mr. Carlos de Icaza
Ambassador of the Republic of Mexico to Japan
Embassy of Mexico
2-15-1 Nagatacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Dear Ambassador Mr. de Icaza,
We, members of the undersigned groups in Japan, implore you to communicate
to the President of the United Mexican States our extreme dismay over the
worsening situation in the State of Chihuahua. We are particularly alarmed
to hear from Mujeres de Negro in Chihuahua that they have been threatened
with legal action, and that many of their members are currently under surveillance
by Chihuahua law enforcement. Mujeres de Negro is one of the most effective
advocates in Chihuahua for the families of victims. Oppressive actions against
them must cease immediately.
We have been alarmed, through our communications with Mujeres de Negro
and other human rights organizations, both in Mexico and elsewhere, that
the Mexican State of Chihuahua must surely be the most dangerous place to
be a young woman in the Americas. As I am sure you know, in the city of
Juarez alone, since 1993, some 268 women have been murdered and at least
250 more have disappeared. All were between the ages of 15 and 24, and all
the bodies found have been brutally raped, tortured and mutilated. This
epidemic of violence is unprecedented in Mexico. And, most disturbing of
all, the murders and disappearances continue.
The actions of Mexican authorities in response to these crimes have been
ineffectual. We are told by attorneys in Mexico that existing laws have
not been upheld. Questionable treatment of evidence and false accusations
flaw too many investigations. The right to live in safety, to due process
and to justice have all been violated time after time.
Families of the victims, their supporters and advocates have protested
lack of effective action on the part of authorities continuously for nearly
a decade, since the first victims began to disappear. Justicia Para Nuestras
Hijas is a coalition of organizations, established in 2002 in Chihuahua
to bring together NGOs, victimsユ families and their legal advocates to enhance
the struggle for justice. Mujeres de Negro is a member of this coalition.
We join Justicia Para Nuestras Hijas in calling for justice and human rights
and more effective action on the part of local authorities. We support their
demands that the needs of Mexicoユs growing population of young working women
be addressed, including their need for security in going to, and returning
home from their workplaces. We support their call for new laws to promote
public safety, proper legal management of missing cases and scientifically
accurate identification of human remains. We support their demand that any
representative of state authority who does not fulfill his or her duty to
uphold the law and protect the Mexican citizenry should be held accountable
and punished. We also support their point of view that, if the Federal Government
of Mexico fails to uphold internationally recognized standards of human
rights, then the Mexican State is also responsible for the perpetuation
of these crimes and should be subject to sanction from the international
community.
We especially deplore reports we have received that families of the victims
and their supporters, including Mujeres de Negro, have been subjected to
repression carried out by agents of the Mexican State. The families of the
victims and their supporters have demanded justice, exercised their right
to freedom of expression and have sought support from the international
human rights community. For this they have been harassed, beaten, tortured,
publicly defamed, falsely accused of crimes and arrested.
Please convey to the President of the Republic of Mexico our solidarity
with our sisters of Mujeres de Negro in their actions to achieve justice
in this terrible situation. We call on him to assure cooperation of the
government with the families and their advocates in ending the repressive
actions against them immediately.
Thank you very much in advance for transmitting our message.
Very sincerely,
Asia-Japan Women's Resource Center
14-10-311 Sakuragaoka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-3780-5245 Fax:03-3463-9752
E-mail: ajwrc@jca.apc.org
Women in Black Tokyo
wibtokyo@earth.co.jp
Amnesty International Japan
7th Floor, Ogasawara Bldg., 2-7 Kanda Tsukasa-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
TEL.03-3518-6777 FAX.03-3518-6778
info@amnesty.or.jp
cc:Mujeres de Negro/Justicia Para Nuestras Hijas
Rio Soto La Marina #8204
Col. Alfredo Chavez
Chihuahua, Chih. Mexico
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