Human rights lawyer constantly harassed

Human rights lawyer Rodrigo Higuera Zogaib has reported suffering constant intimidation and harassment as result of his work. The authorities have so far failed to guarantee his safety. A full investigation into these incidents must be carried out.

Mexican human rights lawyer Rodrigo Higuera Zogaib has reported suffering threats and harassment because of his work. Due to the high risk, his family fled the country. Rodrigo Higuera Zogaib’s office in Mexico City was broken into on 20 March; the files of a sensitive case were thrown on the floor and a computer was taken. This is not the first time the lawyer and his colleagues have reported facing intimidation and harassment. During the last two years their office has been broken into another four times; computers and cell phones containing sensitive information have been stolen, sometimes by force, and their telephone and internet lines have been tampered with and sabotaged. Office personnel have reported unknown men watching and photographing them.

Rodrigo Higuera Zogaib reported these incidents to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos). Likewise, the federal human rights defender’s protection mechanism has been informed, but the measures so far taken by federal authorities have been insufficient to effectively protect him, his colleagues, and his family.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Rodrigo Higuera Zogaib’s law firm represents several cases in Mexico City. He believes the intimidation he has been facing is related to the potentially sensitive case of Lorena González Hernández, a former member of the police who has been charged with kidnapping. Rodrigo Higuera Zogaib considers this to be a wrongful accusation, plagued with human rights violations, and has decided to represent her before tribunals.

A Law for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Journalists was unanimously approved by both houses of Mexico's parliament, and signed by the president, in 2012. However the protection mechanism lacks effectiveness, since the protection measures are ploddingly implemented and the cooperation among authorities are scarce. It is vital that the authorities do not assume that their responsibilities are restricted to establishing a protection mechanism and that there is a vital flow of communication between the federal, state and municipal governments.

Name: Rodrigo Higuera Zogaib