Lic. María Encarnación Mejía de Contreras
Fiscal General de la República y Jefe del Ministerio Público
15ª Avenida 15-16, Zona 1, Barrio Gerona
Ciudad de Guatemala, GUATEMALA
Dear Attorney General,
The case of Mrs. Norma Cruz has come to my attention through Amnesty
International.
Norma Cruz and her colleagues at the Survivors' Foundation provide essential
services to women who suffer acts of violence. They run a crisis centre for
victims of sexual violence and offer support for those who are brave enough to
take action through the courts and bring those responsible to justice. As a result
of her work, Mrs. Norma Cruz has been repeatedly threatened with death since,
at least, 2008. Some of her relatives have also suffered threats and attacks.
Since May 2009, all the threats that Norma Cruz has received have been related
to Survivors’ Foundation’s provision of legal assistance in the case of a girl who
was raped.
In spite of her repeated calls for justice, no one has been brought to account for
these threats - Norma Cruz and other human rights defenders in Guatemala face
constant danger.
I would like to call on you to carry out a swift, full and impartial investigation
into the death threats against human rights defender Norma Cruz.
I would also like to, through you, urge the Guatemalan authorities to respect the
1998 Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the UN General
Assembly, that highlights the state’s duty to protect human rights defenders and
to guarantee that they can carry out their work without obstacles or fear of
reprisals; and implement the recommendations issued by the UN Special
Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders on 16 February 2009.
Yours Sincerely,
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