Urgent Action: DEFENDERS SPIED BY AUTHORITIES (Mexico 47.24)

In 2016, staff of the Specialized Sub-Attorney General’s Office for Organized Crime Investigation (SEIDO) of the Attorney General’s Office of Mexico (PGR), now the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime (FEMDO) of the Attorney General’s Office of Mexico (FGR), illegally investigated and used targeted surveillance against human rights defenders, Ana Lorena Delgadillo, Marcela Turati, and Mercedes Doretti, in relation with their work with relatives of missing migrants in San Fernando, Tamaulipas. We urge Mexican authorities to stop any arbitrary and illegal investigation, targeted surveillance, and criminal action against them.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: July 16, 2024

take action:

• Write a letter in your own words or using the sample below as a guide to one or both government officials listed. You can also email, fax, call or Tweet them.
• Click here to let us know the actions you took on Urgent Action 47.24. It’s important to report because we share the total number with the officials we are trying to persuade and the people we are trying to help.

contact information:

sample letter:

Dear Attorney General of Mexico / Your Excellency,

I am concerned about the situation of human rights defender, Ana Lorena Delgadillo; journalist, Marcela Turati; and independent forensic expert, Mercedes Doretti, who were the object of an investigation and unlawful surveillance in 2016 within the file of those responsible for the massacre of 196 migrants found in 48 clandestine graves in San Fernando, Tamaulipas.

Amnesty International has found that the authorities’ use of targeted surveillance against them was against international standards, as well as the domestic legislation. Notably, the decision was not based on reasonable suspicion with sufficient elements pointing to their involvement in organized crime and it did not comply with the requirement for warrants issued by an independent judicial authority. Surveillance against Ana Lorena, Marcela, and Mercedes raises fears that they may have been targeted for their human rights work and their critical opinions of the government.

I urge you to close any investigation against Ana Lorena Delgadillo, Marcela Turati, and Mercedes Doretti that stems from their human rights work and to put an end to any form of surveillance on them. I call on you as well to open a prompt, independent, and impartial investigation into the authorities involved in their criminalization and unlawful surveillance.

Yours sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

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