Mexico Meeting Action
July 19, 2005
(See below for a list of recipients. Please send to all recepients you are comfortable writing to.)
On 21 June Health worker Octavio Acuna was found bleeding to death from
multiple stab wounds in the condom shop (condoneria) he ran in Queretaro.
Nothing was reportedly stolen from the shop, indicating that the motive
was not robbery.
Mr. Acuna campaigned on various human rights issues, and also worked for the Asociacion Queretana de Educacion para la Sexualidad, or Aquesex (Quereteran Association for Sexual Education). A few weeks before he was killed, Octavio Acuna had spoken at a public meeting, condemning this inaction and the discrimination he had experienced at the hands of the CEDH and the local authorities.
I am writing to express concern that the murder of Octavio Acuna may have been a homophobic hate crime, and would appreciate an immediate, impartial and thorough investigation into the matter.
In addition, I am calling on the authorities to guarantee the safety his partner, members the Asociacion Queretana de Educacion para la Sexualidad and others campaigning for the rights of sexual minorities in the city, and to give them the protection they have requested. I insist that all lines of investigation into the murder of Octavio Acuna and other apparent hate crimes are followed impartially and effectively, so that partners or other members of the gay community are not unfairly blamed or harassed.
Finally, I would like to remind you that the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders recognizes the legitimacy of the activities of human rights defenders and their right to carry out their activities without any restrictions or fear of reprisals.
I appreciate your prompt and thorough attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
APPEALS TO:
Governor of Queretaro:
Francisco Garrido Patron
Gobernador del Estado de Queretaro
Palacio de la Corregidora
Pasteur esq. 5 de Mayo Col. Centro
Queretaro, Qro, Mexico
Fax: 011 52 442 238 5000 (an automated system will respond,
dial ext 5191)
Email: uaippe@queretaro.gob.mx
Salutation: Estimado Gobernador/Dear Governor
Attorney General of Queretaro state:
Lic. Juan Martin Granados Torres
C. Procurador de Justicia del Estado de Queretaro
Lateral Carretera Queretaro, Mexico. Numero 260
Delegacion Villa Cayetano Rubio
Queretaro, Qro
Mexico, C.P. 76090
Fax: 011 52 442 2387600 (an automated system will tell you to dial 1079;
a voice will answer. Ask for ''tono de fax, por favor'')
Email: pgjq@queretaro.gob.mx
President of the state human rights commission:
Lic. Pablo Enrique Vargas Gomez
Presidente de la Comision Estatal de Derechos Humanos de Queretaro
Hidalgo #6, Centro Historico
Queretaro, Qro
Mexico, C.P. 76000
Fax: 011 52 442 2146007 Ext. 103 (dial the extension when the automated
response starts)
Emails: presidencia@cedhqro.org
Director of Human Rights - Interior Ministry:
Maestro Ricardo Sepulveda
Secretaria de Gobernacion
Reforma 99, PISO 21, PH
Colonia Tabacalera
C.P. 06030, Mexico D.F. Mexico
Fax: 011 52 55 51 28 02 34 (if someone answers the phone ask for ''tono
de fax, por favor'')
Salutation: Estimado Maestro/Dear Sir
COPIES TO:
Non-governmental human rights organization:
Centro de Derechos Humanos "Fray Jacobo Daciano",
Mariano Escobedo 135, Casa 11
Centro, Queretaro, Mexico CP 76000
Ambassador Carlos Alberto De Icaza Gonzalez
Embassy of Mexico
1911 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington DC 20006
Fax: 1 202 728 1698
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Honduras Meeting Action
January 10, 2005
Lic. Ricardo Maduro
Presidente de la República de Honduras
Casa Presidencial
Boulevard Juan Pablo Segundo
Palacio José Cecilio del Valle
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Fax: +504 2214552
Dear President Maduro,
I am writing as a member of the international human rights community urging you to support the legal status awarded the organizations La Comunidad Gay Sampedrana, el Grupo Kukulkan and Colectivo Violeta. I respectfully remind you that all people, independent of their sexual orientation or gender identity, have the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association as described in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Honduran Constitution.
I am deeply concerned that individuals both within and outside the government seek cancellation of this legal status using subjective and discriminatory arguments. Please ensure that the legal status of these groups is not revoked. I also urge you to publicly express support for the work of LGBT organizations in Honduras.
Sincerely,
Sr. Porfirio Lobo Soza
President of the National Congress
Fax: +504 238 6048
Email: opinion@congreso.hn
Salutation: Sr. Presidente del Congreso
Sr Sergio Zavala Leiva
Procurador General de la República
Tf: +504 235 61 00/ 235 60 54
Fax: +504 235 77 49
Email: procurador@pgr.gob.hn
Salutation: Sr. Procurator General
Lic. Ramón Hernández Alcerro
Ministro de Gobernación y Justicia
Fax: +504 232 1894 / 0226 / 0275 / 0231
Email: jhernandez@gobernacion.gob.hn
Salutation: Sr. Ministro
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Zimbabwe Meeting Action
January 10, 2005
Chairman Welshman Ncube, Parliamentary Legal Committee
Parliament of Zimbabwe
Nelson Mandela / 3rd St. Box C& 298, Causeway
Harare, Zimbabwe
Dear Mr. Chairman,
I am deeply concerned by the government's plans to enact the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Bill. I believe that the NGO Bill restricts the rights of human rights defenders to freedom of expression, assembly and association, and is inconsistent with national and international human rights standards. Furthermore, Articles 1, 2 and 17 of the bill, in particular, contravene the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, reaffirmed by the African Commission on Human and People's Rights, which guarantees everyone the right to solicit, receive and utilize resources for the expressed purpose of promoting and protecting human rights through peaceful means.
I am especially concerned that the implementation of the NGO Bill will have grave implications not only for human rights defenders but also for the many victims of human rights violations who receive support and care from these organizations. The African Commission on Human and People's Rights acknowledged the importance of the work by human rights defenders when it adopted a resolution that recognized them as crucial contributors in defending human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Africa at its 35th session in 2004.
I urge you to please call on the Ministers of Parliament not to pass the NGO Bill unless it is revised to be consistent with national and international human rights standards. I am also respectfully requesting that you urge the Ministers of Parliament to ensure that the Bill does not result in threats to or violations of the rights of human rights defenders.
I am anxiously awaiting your response to this issue.
Sincerely,
