Mar 23, 2012

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
<http://americasmexico.blogspot.mx/2012/03/human-rights-abuses-five-pe...>
in the crime although investigation continues. International
statements and sign-ons to the declaration below can be sent to:
i...@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).

Posted by Laura Carlsen at 4:53 PM

http://americasmexico.blogspot.com/2012/03/mexican-women-human-rights...