ORDER OF THE ∗ INTER-AMERICAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS OF FEBRUARY 13, 2013 REQUEST FOR PROVISIONAL MEASURES REGARDING MEXICO MATTER OF CASTRO RODRÍGUEZ HAVING SEEN: 1. The brief of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (hereinafter “the Inter-American Commission” or “the Commission”) of November 30, 2012, in which it submitted a request for provisional measures to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (hereinafter the Inter-American Court,” or the “Court”), pursuant to Article 63(2) of the American Convention on Human Rights (hereinafter “the American Convention” or “the Convention”) and Article 27 of the Court’s Rules of Procedure 1 (hereinafter “the Rules of Procedure”), for the purpose of requiring the United Mexican States (hereinafter “Mexico” or “the State”) to protect the life and personal integrity of Mrs. Luz Estela Castro Rodríguez. 2. The Order of the Inter-American Court of November 26, 2010, in the Matter of Alvarado Reyes et al. regarding Mexico, in which it decided to: “[r]eject the request to extend the instant provisional measures in favor of […] Luz Estela Castro Rodríguez, […] under the terms of Considering paragraphs 58 to 66 of this Order.” 3. The facts on which the request for provisional measures submitted by the Commission is based, regarding the current situation of human rights defenders in the State of Chihuahua, namely: a) according to a study carried out by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Chihuahua ranks in first place in reports of attacks committed against human rights defenders 2; b) several human rights organizations have denounced statements made by the State Governor which discredit the work of organizations that defend human rights and, consequently, sending a message of harassment and intimidation; c) in this context of efforts to discredit human rights defenders, and in the absence of specific measures of protection, the attacks faced by human rights defenders, particularly women, in the State of Chihuahua, there is an intense ∗ Judge Eduardo Ferrer Mac-Gregor Poisot, a Mexican national, did not participate in the discussion of this request for provisional measures, pursuant to Articles 19(2) of the Court’s Statute and 19 of its Rules of Procedure. Also, Judge Alberto Pérez Pérez informed the Court that, for reasons of force majeure, he was unable to be present in the deliberation and signing of this Order. 1 Rules approved by the Court during its Eighty-fifth Regular Period of Sessions held on November 16 to 28, 2009. 2 OHCHR, Report on the Situation Human Rights defenders in Mexico, Update 2010, page 11. Available at: http://www.hchr.org.mx/Documentos%5CLibros%5C2010%5CL241110B.pdf.