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Parliamentary question - E-011158/2013Parliamentary question
E-011158/2013

VP/HR — Situation of women human rights defenders and journalists in Mexico

Question for written answer E-011158-13
to the Commission (Vice-President/High Representative)
Rule 117
Joanna Senyszyn (S&D)

The strategic partnership of 2008 between the European Union and Mexico places human rights at the centre of the political relationship with this country. Up until now, three dialogues on human rights have taken place. EU guidelines on human rights, particularly those concerning human rights defenders, the adoption of a strategic framework and EU Action Plan on human rights and democracy and the implementation of the post of European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for human rights, also reaffirm the centrality of human rights in relations between the European Union and its strategic partners.

In Mexico, the figures relating to attacks against women human rights defenders and journalists are particularly alarming. The Mesoamerican Initiative of Women Human Rights Defenders[1] has so far documented 25 cases of assassinations of women activists and journalists between 2010 and 2012 in the country. Their analysis also emphasises that this violence is being played out within the context of some extremely serious structural violence. In 2013, the National Network of Women Human Rights Defenders in Mexico has logged a total of 65 attacks against 23 women activists, 17 journalists and nine organisations. It is important to specify that 32 of these attacks were committed against women activists and journalists in the State of Oaxaca.

Is the EEAS aware of this data and what action does it intend to take in this regard, in the context of its strategic partnership with Mexico?

Will it incorporate into its next human rights dialogue with Mexico a discussion regarding the situation of women human rights defenders and journalists as well as the issue of the governmental protection mechanism for human rights defenders and journalists not being implemented satisfactorily?

OJ C 298, 04/09/2014