4
homicides of women, and she was assigned coverage of this subject. It was indicated
that until she was dismissed, in 2005, Ms. Pérez Torres’ publications “entailed
looking for the versions of the victims’ families,” and “[t]he trust earned from the
mothers […] allowed her to know in greater detail the actions of the authorities in
the investigations.” Likewise, the publication of this information resulted in that “the
authorities […] began making access to information and interviews more difficult” for
Ms. Pérez Torres. Finally, they indicated that currently the State’s official version
“was formalized through the campaign ‘let’s clean up Juárez’,” which aims to “clean
the city’s image which [was] considered[…] stained by the myth of femicide.”
9.
That with regards to the second point, the violent situation in Ciudad Juárez,
the representatives described the violence and crime recorded in the city during the
last ten years and, particularly, how it has changed during the last two years.
According to the representatives, the presence of the Mexican Army in Ciudad Juárez
“has meant an attack against civil society, committing all types of human rights
violations […], cases which have been documented by journalists.” They concluded
that “the risk factors for the life and integrity of journalist Pérez Torres potentially
increase given that there is an environment more fitting for impunity and for
exercising power over people who are already in vulnerable situations.”
10.
That with regards to the third point, the damages to the life and personal
integrity of the people involved in the complaint and the request for justice regarding
the disappearances and homicides of women in Ciudad Juárez, the representatives
provided information on several people associated with the case of Campo
Algodonero who have allegedly been murdered. Specifically, they indicated that,
“[as] of 2008 the work conditions for journalists in Ciudad Juárez have become high
risk for their life and integrity to such an extent that Journalists Without Border[s]
urged Canada and the United States to be more sensitive to the asylum requests
from journalists.” They added that “the threats against journalists have reached the
point where soldiers threaten reporters by putting them in their rifles’ view.” They
also mentioned the case of a reporter who worked with Mr. Alejandro Quintero, Ms.
Pérez Torres’ husband, who was murdered on November 13, 2008, and three
reporters who sought refuge in the United States and Canada. Finally, they indicated
that two Mexican civil society organizations (Article 19 and the National Center for
Social Communication) have recorded Chihuahua as one of the states with higher
risk for journalists.
11.
That regarding the risks of damages to the life and irreparable damages to
the personal integrity of Ms. Pérez Torres and her family, the representatives
indicated that “the first threats began [a]fter an article was published in 2000.”
Specifically, they detailed the following facts:
a)
“A constant method was monitoring her, as well as manifestations that
they followed her actions and environment. For example, one of the agents
responsible for following up on the investigation on disappeared women
waited for her in broad daylight, at approximately 3:00 p.m., outside of the
newspaper’s offices until she came out, and he started to focus and record
her with a camera, without attempting to hide or avoid being seen by her.
Afterwards, he got in a compact red car with no plates and left at full speed;”
b)
“After covering the facts of the homicides of eight women in Campo
[A]lgodonero, the threats became more direct. She received messages