IACHR condemns murder of Father Marcelo Pérez Pérez, beneficiary of precautionary measures in Mexico

October 24, 2024

Washington, D.C. —The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) condemns the murder of human rights defender and beneficiary of IACHR precautionary measures Father Marcelo Pérez Pérez in San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico.

According to information provided by his representatives and public reports, Father Marcelo Pérez Pérez was fatally shot by individuals on motorcycles after celebrating mass in San Cristóbal de las Casas.

He had been the beneficiary of precautionary measures since 2015 due to the risk he was exposed to. In Resolution 30/2015, the IACHR called on the State to take the necessary steps to guarantee his safety and personal integrity, allow him to continue his human rights work without fear of violence or harassment, and to investigate the events that gave rise to the precautionary measures. The parties have regularly updated the IACHR on the implementation of these measures.

The IACHR underscores that violence and other forms of aggression against human rights defenders not only violate their fundamental human rights but also weaken the vital role they play in society. Such acts also have a chilling effect on other defenders and are detrimental to the communities they work for, making them even more vulnerable, sometimes to the point of defenselessness.

The IACHR notes the State's response that the Chiapas Attorney General's Office has apprehended the alleged perpetrator. The national Attorney General's Office has referred the case to the federal level, such that it is now under the jurisdiction of the Specialized Prosecutor's Office for Human Rights, which will take an intersectional approach. The IACHR acknowledges President Claudia Sheinbaum's involvement in the investigation and her offer of cooperation to clarify the circumstances of this crime. The IACHR calls on the Mexican State to conduct a diligent investigation and to sanction those responsible for perpetrating and masterminding this crime. It is especially important for the investigation to consider Father Pérez Pérez's work as a human rights defender and the threats and harassment he experienced before his murder. The broader context of rising violence in Chiapas, as previously reported to the IACHR, should also inform the lines of inquiry.

The IACHR urges the State to immediately implement all measures necessary to protect the rights to life, personal integrity, and safety of all other individuals who have been granted precautionary measures. It also emphasizes the need to provide protection for Father Pérez Pérez's family and those who were close to his work, including the members of his religious congregation and the communities that he defended.

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) is an autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS) whose mandate is based on the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. Its mission is to promote and defend human rights throughout the Americas and to serve as an advisory body to the OAS in this area. The IACHR consists of seven independent members elected by the OAS General Assembly who serve in a personal capacity and do not represent their countries of origin or residence.

No. 260/24

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