CEJIL 30 Years: Digna Ochoa

Image: original art by María Fernanda Lesmes B. (IG @marialessmes) 

The below reflection was written by Alma Delia Murillo

On October 19, 2001, Digna Ochoa, a tireless human rights activist, was assassinated. Days before her murder, Digna received threats for which she requested the accompaniment of CEJIL – the Center for Justice and International Law. Together with CEJIL, precautionary measures were requested before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, because Digna’s life was in danger.

They found her body with two bullet wounds from a 22-caliber weapon, yet the Mexican State declared it a suicide. Some time later, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights held the Mexican State responsible for the violation of human rights in the case of Digna Ochoa. In a country like Mexico that today [in] 2021 has a rate of 11 femicides a day, it is very important that we do not forget.

October 19, 2021 will mark the 20^th anniversary of the murder of Digna Ochoa. Let us remember, until as Rosario Castellanos said: “justice is felt among us!”

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