A/HRC/51/47
dissenting opinions against the authorities or criticism of the conduct of members of the
Malian Defence and Security Forces during military or counter-terrorism operations.
MINUSMA received information and testimonies from credible sources that the campaign
had dissuaded civil society actors from engaging with the UN and led to self-censorship.
Names and details of those concern are withheld for fear of retaliation.
46.
MINUSMA documented one incident of intimidation and reprisals against two
individuals for cooperating with the Mission. On 10 December 2021, one man and his wife
from the Sarakolé community in Dogofry commune (Ségou region) were targeted by Dozos
traditional hunters on grounds that they provided early warning on violence across communal
lines in the area and collaborated with MINUSMA. The perpetrators reportedly set fire to the
victims’ dwelling while they were inside, resulting in serious injuries on the woman.
13.
Mexico
47.
On 17 March 2022, mandate-holders addressed allegations of criminal investigations
and other acts of intimidation and reprisal for cooperation with the UN Working Group on
Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) against Mr. Salvador Leyva Morelos Zaragoza, Ms.
Verónica Jazmín Berber Calle and Ms. Elvira Claudia Mejía Hernández, public officials
from the Federal Public Defence Office (MEX 4/2022). All three public officials assumed
within their mandate the legal defence and representation of Ms. Brenda Quevedo before
national and international entities, including the WGAD. In August 2020, the WGAD
adopted Opinion 45/202033 according to which Ms. Quevedo had been arbitrarily detained
since 2009. In October 2021, the WGAD welcomed the Government of Mexico’s statement
that it would implement its Opinion.34
48.
Between October 2020 and April 2021, Ms. Quevedo’s defence brought a series of
legal actions at the national level demanding the implementation of the WGAD’s
recommendations. Reportedly, as a result of these actions, the Attorney General’s Office has
initiated three investigations against the defence team. On 12 February 2022, Mr. Morelos
Zaragoza’s home was searched in his absence and reportedly without prior notice,
identification of the authors, or production of a search warrant. On 15 and 16 February 2022,
at the request of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, Ms. Quevedo’s legal defence team presented
itself before the Public Prosecutor and requested access to the investigation file (MEX
4/2022).
49.
From 15 to 26 November 2021, the United Nations Committee on Enforced
Disappearances (CED) conducted an official visit to Mexico. In its end-of-mission
statement35 and its visit report,36 the CED condemned the vandalising of a memorial site in
the city of Guadalajara (state of Jalisco) following its conversation with victims’ groups. It
recalled that no one who has participated in conversations or contributed information to the
Committee should be subject to reprisals.
50.
On 29 June 2022, the Government responded to the note verbale sent in connection to
the present report clarifying that there are no records on the alleged investigations against
Mr. Salvador Leyva Morelos Zaragoza, Ms. Verónica Jazmín Berber Calle and Ms. Elvira
Claudia Mejía Hernández by the Attorney General’s Office.
33
34
35
36
26
https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/Documents/Issues/Detention/Opinions/Session88/
A_HRC_WGAD_2020_45_Advance_Edited_Version.pdf; see also https://www.ohchr.org/en/pressreleases/2020/10/mexico-human-rights-experts-welcome-promised-release-brenda-quevedocruz?LangID=E&NewsID=26382.
https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2020/10/mexico-human-rights-experts-welcome-promisedrelease-brenda-quevedo-cruz.
https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=27877&LangID=E.
CED/C/R.9 (Observations and recommendations), paras. 88–89 and 100.