WUNRN
Global Fund for Women
December 20, 2010
In response to the December 16th killing of human rights defender Marisela Escobedo, Global Fund grantee Justicia para Nuestras Hijas (Justice for Our Daughters), whose work Marisela was supporting at the time of her death, made the following statement about this recent murder and the larger context of discrimination and violence against women in Mexico.
Marisela Escobedo Ortiz, women’s human rights defender of Ciudad Juarez, was murdered while peacefully demanding the compliance of the sentence against the assassin of her daughter, Rubi Marisol Frayre Escobedo.
On 16 December 2010, a group of men arrived at the main square in the Chihuahua city, and approached Marisela Escobedo Ortiz, who was holding a peaceful demonstration for 8 days to demand that the authorities take action to detain her daughter Rubi’s assassin. She ran seeking refuge in the Government Palace; at its doors, one of the men shot her in the head, killing her.
The cause of this murder is the culture of discrimination and violence against women that the Mexican State has maintained in Ciudad Juarez and in Chihuahua over the past two decades. In the past 27 months, Marisela’s main activity was to demand justice for her daughter’s murder, denouncing the authorities as accomplices and negligent of femicide, and demanding that the justice system effectively guarantee women’s right to a life free of violence.
On 28 August 2008, faced with her daughter Rubi’s murder, Marisela began the process to denounce the murder and to demand that the authorities act in accordance with the law, as there were clear suspicions about the identity of the assassin.
Rubi Marisol, 19 years of age, was killed in Ciudad Juarez by her partner, Sergio Rafael Barraza, with whom she had a daughter. Barraza Bocanegra was abussive from the beginning of the relationship, increasing the violence until he killed her, burned her body and threw her in a clandestine trash dump and pig cemetery. He then fled to the state of Zacatecas, trusting that after some time his crime would remain unpunished, as are hundreds of other murders of women in Ciudad Juarez. His crime was not investigated, he was later absolved in the courts, and finally, since he had fled, was found guilty in appeals.
Given the grave irregularities and omissions on the part of the authorities involved in the ministerial investigations, Marisela had the tenacity to look for proof about the events, always within the limits of the law. Sergio Rafael Barraza, personally and in her presence, identified the exact place where he had dumped his victim, confessed to his crime, and asked for forgiveness in a hearing during the oral trial that took place. However, on 29 April 2010, the judges Catalina Ochoa Contreras, Netzahualcoyotl Zuñiga Vazquez and Rafael Baudib Jurado decided to acquit him.
The event shocked Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua. The victims’ families and the local organizations, alongside national and international spaces and organizations, have acted since 1993 to document femicide, denouncing the negligence and complicity of the authorities, constantly presenting proposals and actions for the State institutions to act in accordance with their obligations with the citizens. Just a few months earlier, there was an important accomplishment towards this aim. In December 2009, the Inter-American Human Rights Court condemned Mexico for the disappearances, sexual violence, and murders of women in Ciudad Juarez. The Mexican State had argued in the Inter-American trial that the new justice system in Chihuahua did not repeat the impunity of prior decades. The assassination of Rubi and the impunity despite the weight of the evidence, demonstrates that the situation in Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua was worse than in any previous year.
During 2010, every 24 hours a woman has been killed in the state of Chihuahua for reasons primarily to do with the fact that she is a woman. An unprecedented fact is that the vast majority of the cases are in total impunity.
The Inter-American Court also recognized that there is systematic harassment and aggression against families and defenders who demand justice for these cases, and it condemned Mexico for not guaranteeing their protection, allowing crimes to go unpunished and not compensating for damages.
Marisela Escobedo Ortiz always sought justice in a peaceful manner. She used her own resources, economic and human, to conduct the work that the authorities did not do. She conducted all of the investigations to learn the truth and to find her daughter’s murderer. She walked from Ciudad Juarez to Chihuahua to demand that the state Governor, at that time Jose Reyes Baeza, order the necessary actions to detain the assassin. After Sergio Rafael Barraza was acquitted, she initiated the appeal and managed to get the assassin condemned. However, since he was not held in custody, he fled again and began to threaten Marisela. In July of this year, she moved to the Alameda Central in Mexico City to demand that President Felipe de Jesus Calderon Hinojosa, seek out and arrest the murderer. In September she went to the National Feminist Gathering held in Zacatecas to call on the authorities to search for Barraza, because there were indications that he was in that state. In November of this year, she testified before the International Mission for Women’s Access to Justice.
She always affirmed that as long as Rubi’s assassin, and all assassins of women, remain free, they would continue to commit these crimes. Her consciousness of the need to take measures to ensure that these acts would not repeat themselves led to the creation of an Investigation Commission for Rubi’s case in the state of Chihuahua, with the goal of identifying the errors committed in the process and take action within the justice system to ensure that this impunity not be repeated. However, all of this was paralyzed during the change in state and municipal governments. On 16 December, Marisela was protesting because the new governor, Cesar Duare Jaquez, had not taken any action regarding her daughter – and other women who were disappeared and murdered – but he had mobilized the entire justice apparatus in support of the families of high-level State officials.
The organizations signing this statement will give continuity to Marisela’s voice and demands:
Marisela Escobedo Ortiz was a human rights defender who, after her daughter’s murder, mobilized people and organizations, institutions and powers to put a stop to femicide, always by strengthening the institutions of justice, citizen action, and democracy. Her assassination reveals the criminal lack of protection that the Mexican State maintains against defenders and its lack of effective will to guarantee women a life free of violence.
Red Mesa de Mujeres de Ciudad Juárez A.C. www.campoalgodonero.org.mx
Mujeres por México, Chihuahua A.C.
Comisión de Solidaridad y Defensa de los Derechos Humanos, A. C.
Observatorio Ciudadano de Derechos de las Mujeres
Academia Mexicana de Derechos Humanos
Cátedra UNESCO de derechos Humanos de la UNAM
Laura Gutiérrez (MUGAC, Baja California, Tecate), Silvia Vázquez Camacho
(Comisión Mexicana de Defensa y Promoción de los Derechos Humanos A.C., Baja
California, Tijuana), Blanca Mesina (Comisión Mexicana de Defensa y Promoción
de los Derechos Humanos A.C., Baja California, Tijuana), Blanca Isabel Martínez
Bustos (Centro Diocesano para los Derechos Humanos Fray Juan de Larios A.C.,
Coahuila, Saltillo), María Luisa García Andrade (Nuestras Hijas de Regreso a
Casa A.C, Chihuahua, Ciudad Juárez), Ileana Espinoza (Red Mesa de Mujeres
Chihuahua, Ciudad Juárez), Verónica Corchado (Pacto por la Cultura, Chihuahua,
Ciudad Juárez), Imelda Marrufo (Red Mesa de Mujeres de Ciudad Juárez A.C.,
Chihuahua, Ciudad Juárez), Emilia González (Comisión de Solidaridad y Defensa
de los Derechos Humanos, A. C., Chihuahua, Ciudad Juárez), Lucha Castro
Rodríguez (Centro de Derechos de las Mujeres A.C. Chihuahua, Ciudad Juárez),
Martha Graciela Ramos Carrasco (Mujeres por México en Chihuahua A.C.,
Chihuahua, Ciudad Juárez), Margarita Guadalupe Martínez Martínez (ENLACE,
Comunicación y Capacitación, A.C., Chiapas), Martha Figueroa (Grupo de mujeres
de San Cristóbal de las Casas A.C., Chiapas, San Cristobal), Diana Damián
(Municipio Autónomo Zapatista, Chiapas), Ana Karen López Quintana (Tamaulipas
Diversidad y VIHDA Trans A.C., Tamaulipas, Tampico), Alicia Leal Puertas
(Alternativas Pacíficas A.C., Nuevo León, Monterrey), Consuelo Morales
(Ciudadanos en Apoyo a los Derechos Humanos, A.C., Nuevo León, Monterrey),
Angélica Araceli Reveles Soto (CLADEM-México, Jalisco, Guadalajara), Guadalupe
López García (Lesbianas en Patlatonalli A. C., Jalisco, Guadalajara), Dora
Ávila (Centro para los derechos de la Mujer Nääxwiin, Red Nacional de
Promotoras y Asesoras Rurales, Oaxaca, Matías Romero), Beatriz Teresa Casas
Arellanes (BARCA, Oaxaca), Emelia Ortiz García (Campaña “Si no están ellas no
estamos todas”, Oaxaca, Región Triqui), Beatriz Hernández (Círculo Profesional
para la Formación con Equidad de Género ¡Ndudxa Ndandi!, Oaxaca, Tlaxiaco),
Edita Alavez Ruiz (UNOSJO, Mujeres Organizadas Yuubani, Oaxaca, Guelatao), Ana
María Hernández (Consorcio para el Diálogo Parlamentario y la Equidad Oaxaca,
Oaxaca), Theres Hoechli (Consorcio para el Diálogo Parlamentario y la Equidad
Oaxaca, Oaxaca), Yessica Maya Sánchez (Consorcio para el Diálogo Parlamentario
y la Equidad Oaxaca, Oaxaca), Nadia Altamirano Díaz (Comunicación e Información
de la Mujer AC., Oaxaca), Leticia Burgos (Red Feminista Sonorense, Sonora,
Ciudad Obregón), Sandra Peniche (Servicios Humanitarios en Salud Sexual y
Reproductiva, Yucatán, Mérida), Espinoza Núñez (Zacatecas), Nora Isabel Bucio
Nava (Comunicación e Información de la Mujer AC., Morelos, Cuernavaca), María
del María del Montserrat Díaz (Colectivo Feminista de Xalapa A.C., Veracruz,
Xalapa), Ofelia Cesareo Sánchez (Coordinadora Guerrense de Mujeres Indígenas y
Afromexicana, Guerrero, Chilpancingo), Silvia Castillo Salgado (Instituto
Guerrerense de Derechos Humanos A.C., Guerrero, Chilpancingo), Obtilia Eugenio
Manuel (OPIM, Guerrero), Andrea Eugenio Manuel (OPIM, Guerrero), Soledad
Eugenio (OPIM, Guerrero), Cristina Hardaga Fernández (Centro de Derechos
Humanos de la Montaña Tlachinollan, Guerrero, Tlapa), Carolina Cantú
(Coordinadora Guerrense de Mujeres Indígenas y Afromexicanas, Guerrero,
Tlacopa), Georgina Vargas Vera (Centro de Derechos Humanos Victoria Díez A.C.
Guanajuato, León), Verónica Cruz (Las Libres A.C. Guanajuato, León), María
Trinidad Ramirez (Frente de Pueblos en Defensa de la Tierra, Estado de México,
San Salvador Atenco), Martha Perez (Frente de Pueblos en Defensa de la Tierra,
Estado de México, San Salvador Atenco), Clemencia Correa (D.F.), Yunuhen Rangel
(Comunicación e Información de la Mujer AC., DF), Lucía Lagunes Huerta
(Comunicación e Información de la Mujer , DF), Cirenia Celestino Ortega
(Comunicación e Información de la Mujer , DF), Alejandra Ancheita Pagaza
(Proyecto Derechos Económicos Sociales y Culturales, DF), Elga Aguilar (Comité
Cerezo México, DF), Eréndira Cruz Villegas Fuentes (Incide Social, Frente de
Protección a Periodistas, DF), Dolores González (Serapaz, DF), Tania Ramírez
Hernández (HIJOS, DF), Josefina Chávez (Cuadernos Feministas, PRT, DF), Andrea
de la Barrera Montppellier (Red Mesa de Mujeres de Ciudad Juárez A.C., DF),
Marusia López (Asociadas por lo Justo, D.F.), Andrea Medina Rosas (Red Mesa de
Mujeres de Ciudad Juárez A.C., D.F.), Orfe Castillo (D.F.), Laura García
Coudurier (Sociedad Mexicana Pro Derechos de la Mujer AC, D.F.), Erika González
(Sociedad Mexicana Pro Derechos de la Mujer AC, D.F.), Carmen Morales (Sociedad
Mexicana Pro Derechos de la Mujer AC, D.F.), Alejandra González (Tlachinollan, D.F.),
Irma Estrada Martinez (Tribunal Internacional de Conciencia, DF), Aline
Castellanos Jurado (México, Consorcio Oaxaca A.C.), Cecilia Espinosa Martínez
(México, Red Mesa de mujeres de Cd. Juárez)
Adelay Carias (Honduras, Feministas en Resistencia), Alejandra Nuño (Costa Rica, Centro por la Justicia y en Derecho Internacional-CEJIL), Amandine Fulchiron (Guatemala, Actoras del Cambio), Ana Ixmucané Gatica (Guatemala, Comité de Unidad Campesina), Lucía Morán Vásquez (Guatemala, Mujeres Transformando el Mundo), Carmela Curup Chajon (Guatemala, Asociación de abogadas Mayas), Claudia Hernández Cruz (Guatemala, Fundación Sobrevivientes), Claudia Acevedo (Guatemala, LESBIRADAS), Claudia Spellmant Medina (Honduras, Colectivo III/RedLacTrans), Claudia Samayoa (Guatemala, UDEFEGUA), Daysi Flores (Honduras, Jass Mesoamérica/ Petateras/Feministas en Resistencia), Dora Ruano (Guatemala, Frente Nacional de Lucha -FNL), Erika Guevara (USA, Global Fund For Women), Evelyn García (Guatemala, Centro para la Acción Legal en Derechos Humanos), Evelyn Morales Pineda (Guatemala, Mujeres Tierra Viva), Gilda Rivera Sierra (Honduras, Centro de Derechos de Mujeres), Gladys Lanza Ochoa (Honduras, Movimiento de Mujeres por la Paz “Visitación Padilla”), Inmaculada Barcia (España, AWID), Jacqueline Nolley Echegaray (USA/Peru, Just Associates -JASS), Lisa VeneKlasen (USA, Just Associates -JASS), Luisa Pérez Herrán (Nicaragua, Grupo Venancia), Aleyda Terán (Panamá, Alianza de Mujeres/ Codim/Petateras), Lydia Alpizar (Costa Rica/ México, AWID), Mariana Moisa (El Salvador, Mujeres Solidarias/ Colectiva feminista), Marleni del Carmen Ortiz (El Salvador, Asociación para el Desarrollo y Defensa de la Mujer-APDM), Marta María Blandón (Nicaragua, IPAS), Mary Jane Real (Philippines, Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition), Morena Herrera Argueta (El Salvador, Alianza Feminista Centroamericana /Colectiva Feminista para el Desarrollo Local), Nohelia Nuñez Licona (Honduras, Plataforma de DH de Honduras / E.DEF.), Olga Lorena Lobos Cruz (Guatemala, Asociación de Mujeres de Petén Ixqik), Patricia Orozco Andrade (Nicaragua, Campaña 28 de Septiembre), Patricia Ardón (Guatemala, Sinergia Nój/ JASS/ Petateras), Patricia Guerrero Acevedo (Colombia, Liga de Mujeres Desplazadas), Paz Arau Picado (Nicaragua, Grupo Venancia), Ruth Polanco (El Salvador, Las Dignas), Silvia Ivethe Juárez (El Salvador, ORMUSA), Tara Madden (Irlanda, Front Line), Yanira Argueta (El Salvador, Asociación para la Autodeterminación y Desarrollo de Mujeres Salvadoreñas), Yanira Tobar Márquez (Guatemala, Mujeres en Superación/Red Trasex).
17 December 2010 Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, México.
English translation provided by AWID.