judges (...) who are the butt of threats."15. He added that "on the rate occasions when protection is granted, the persons assigned by the authorities are apparently not ideal and some even have criminal records."16 47. Later on, in October 2009, the Special Rapporteur at the time on the independence of judges and lawyers presented a new report on Guatemala, ii which he pointed out that "the attacks on justice operators are still a matter of grave concern."17 He explained that "despite the establishment of the Unit for Crimes against Justice Operators within the Public Prosecution Service [Ministerio Público], no progress has been made with the investigations into such crimes and with bringing their perpetrators to justice."18 48. Finally, in its 2013 report, "Guarantees for the Independence of Justice System Operators," the Inter-American Commission compiled the following information on the situation of justice system operators in Guatemala between 2009 and 2012: Seven justice system operators were reported to have been murdered in 2009. In addition, at least three judges were allegedly murdered between 2009 and February 2011, along with a prosecutor murdered in 2011. According to information received by the Commission, between 2002 and 2012, 640 judges and magistrates were subjected to threats and intimidation, 24 were assaulted, and 5 kidnapped. Eleven administrators of justice were murdered. Thirty-two of the cases of threats and intimidation occurred in first half 2012. According to information provided by the Guatemalan State, there were 54 denunciations of crimes against prosecutors in 2010; 57 in 2011; and 61 in 2012(…).19 B. Regarding María Eugenia Villaseñor, her immediate family, and her work in the Judiciary 49. Based on the information and documentation provided by the parties, the Commission notes that there is no disagreement regarding the fact that María Eugenia Villaseñor was actively serving in the judiciary as a judge throughout the period of the alleged facts. 50. Mrs. María Eugenia Villaseñor indicated that her immediate family consisted of her daughter Beatriz Eugenia Villaseñor; her brother Francis Antonio Villaseñor Velarde; and her sister Rosa Antonieta Villaseñor Velarde.20 51. Mrs. Villaseñor provided information regarding a number of cases she had examined as a judge and various activities she had engaged in that, in her opinion, had triggered the threats and other forms of persecution against her described below. The State did not question the specific information regarding María Eugenia Villaseñor 's work as a judge or the cases she had heard, so that the IACHR considers the details regarding her activities, as described below, as proven. 52. Mrs. Villaseñor pointed out that she had examined the investigation into the murder of anthropologist Myrna Mack Chang, involving government officials.21 According to information in the public 15 U.N., Report of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Mr. Param Coomaraswamy, Guatemala. January 6, 2000, par. 35. 16 U.N., Report of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Mr. Param Coomaraswamy, Guatemala. January 6, 2000, par. 35. 17 U.N., Report of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Mr. Param Coomaraswamy, Guatemala. October 1, 2009, par. 78. 18 U.N., Report of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Mr. Param Coomaraswamy, Guatemala. October 1, 2009, par. 79. 19 IACHR, Guarantees for the Independence of Justice Operators. Towards strengthening access to justice and the rule of law in the Americas. OEA/Ser.L/V/II. Doc. 44, December 05, 2013, par. 155. 20 Petitioners’ communication of May 7, 2014. 21 Petitioners’ communication of September 30, 1994. 8