Ellioth Escobar Gómez

Cases
Location of case in SG report
2023-080-001
Relevant SG report
Year of the report
2023
Country Geolocation

Latitude: 23.634501

Longitude: -102.552784

Country Geolocation (linked Cases)
Mexico
From Region
UN body that raised the case prior to the SG report
  • OHCHR: OHCHR - General
Type of record
Named individual
Gender
Male
Was the victim a foreign national?
No
Was the victim a minor?
No
Individual's/organization's activity

Mr. Ellioth Escobar Gómez, a member of the organization “Corriente del Pueblo Sol Rojo” (Oaxaca) and a beneficiary of the national protection mechanism for human rights defenders and journalists

Type of rights defended
  • Unclear in SG Report
Was the victim a civil servant or member of the security forces or of the judiciary?
No
Reported trigger of reprisal

presence in a meeting with a delegation of OHCHR during a monitoring visit

Engagement with UN body
  • OHCHR: OHCHR - General
Dates of engagement
2 February 2023
Type of attempted engagement
  • Meeting with UN officials during country visit / with locally present UN officials
Dates of mentioned reprisals
1 and 20 March 2023
Location of mentioned reprisals
Mexico
Reprisal information
  1. During the reporting period, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Mexico documented threats by unknown individual(s) against Mr. Ellioth Escobar Gómez, a member of the organization “Corriente del Pueblo Sol Rojo” (Oaxaca) and a beneficiary of the national protection mechanism for human rights defenders and journalists, following his presence in a meeting with a delegation of OHCHR during a monitoring visit (MEX 7/2019).63
  2. On 2 February 2023, OHCHR met with members of civil society organizations, including the organization “Corriente del Pueblo Sol Rojo.” During the meeting, they reported Government acts and omissions by state authorities regarding alleged human rights violations in connection with a largescale infrastructure project under the Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec as well as a surge in organized crime and violence against the local communities. The civil society organizations that participated in the meeting and local media made public the fact that they had met with the UN.
  3. On 1 and 20 March 2023, before and after the meeting with OHCHR, Mr. Escobar Gómez received text messages on his phone with threats against his physical integrity for his engagement with the United Nations. The messages noted that they knew his whereabouts and stated that “not even the United Nations will save you” and that “the United Nations will not do anything for you”. OHCHR is closely monitoring Mr. Escobar Gómez’s situation and is in contact with the relevant authorities.
Types of reprisals suffered
  • Surveillance
  • Threats/Intimidations (incl. "fear of reprisal")
Alleged/likely perpetrators
Unclear
Was the reprisal based on new legislation?
No
Does the report make general comment about country’s environment for engagement with UN?
No
Government response dates
18 July 2023
Government response content
  1. On 18 July 2023, the Government responded to the note verbale sent to the present report noting that Mr. Ellioth Escobar Gómez is under a protection program of the Federal Mechanism for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Journalists since 8 March 2019. His last risk assessment was undertaken on 29 June 2023.
Is the country cited for a "pattern of reprisal" in the context of this case?
No
Is a pattern of reprisals mentioned otherwise in the context of this case?
No
Does the report cite "self-censorship" as an issue in the context of this case?
No