STATEMENT

IM-DEFENSORAS DEMANDS PROTECTION FOR THE LIFE AND

INTEGRITY OF ALEIDA QUINTANA, WOMAN HUMAN RIGHTS
DEFENDER IN QUERETARO (MEXICO)

Mesoamerica, March 31, 2016 - The 691 women human rights defenders of El Salvador,
Guatemala, Honduras, Mxico and Nicaragua that make up the Mesoamerican Initiative
of Women Human Rights Defenders express our concern over recent attacks, including
death threats and sexual violence still being leveled against rights defender Aleida
Quintana, a member of the Interdisciplinary Tki Group in Queretaro and of the
National Network of Women Human Rights Defenders in Mexico (RNDDHM).
Aleida Quintana is widely recognized for her work of denouncing and documenting forced
disappearances, human trafficking and femicides in Queretaro, and she has actively
pushed the demand for a gender alert to be issued in the state. As a result of her work, as
RNDDHM has denounced, she suffered several attacks and acts of intimidation in May
2015, which included anonymous phone calls, surveillance of her home, and constantly
following. Consequently, the Protection Mechanism for Women Human Rights
Defenders and journalists of the Interior Ministry (SEGOB) granted her protective
measures.
Despite having been adopted by the Mechanism on August 6, 2015 and having received
the first protective measure on August 18, 2015, the attacks against the defender have
increased and have become considerably more serious, to the point of including death
threats and sexual violence with explicit, derogatory allusions to her condition as a woman.
We are especially concerned about the fact that in several of the previously denounced
attacks, the alleged perpetrators have been recognized as public officials of the Attorney
Generals Office of the State of Queretaro (PGJE).
Furthermore, on January 15, 2016, the escort assigned to the defender by the Protection
Mechanism was was arrested by state police officers and consigned to the Public
Prosecutors Agency III for bearing an arm, although he had all the necessary permits
to do so. This arrest placed the defender at risk, given the context of the continuous
threats.
In view of the seriousness of the security conditions now faced by defender Aleida
Quintana, IM-Defensoras calls on authorities in the Queretaro state government and the
federal government to comply with the following demands:

 Guarantee the life and security of Aleida Quintana and other members of the
Interdisciplinary Tki Group.
Guarantee the proper and effective implementation of the protective measures
granted to the defender by the Protection Mechanism for Women Human Rights
Defenders and Journalists, of the Interior Ministry (SEGOB).
Present with all due haste the results of the investigation, identification and
sanctions placed on the masterminds and perpetrators of the attacks against the
defender and her organization.
Respect and recognize human rights defenders and families of disappeared and
murdered persons, as well as the defenders contribution to respecting the victims
human rights, right to the truth, right to access to justice and right to an end to the
impunity of their aggressors.
Likewise, we call on national, regional and international organizations and agencies to
keep an eye on the case and express solidarity with and support for the defender and
her organization.

Nicaraguan Initiative of Women Human Rights Defenders