Mexican authorities have dropped all proceedings against women human rights defenders Ana Lorena Delgadillo, Marcela Turati, and Mercedes Doretti. After years of unjust surveillance and criminalization, they are finally free from these baseless accusations.
Background: A case of unlawful surveillance
In 2016, Mexican authorities launched a secret investigation against Ana Lorena, Marcela, and Mercedes. As human rights defenders working with families of missing migrants in San Fernando, Tamaulipas, they were wrongfully targeted by Mexico’s organized crime investigation unit.
Instead of investigating mass disappearances, officials misused resources to monitor and criminalize these women. They were accused of serious crimes like organized crime and kidnapping—without evidence.
For years, it remained unclear whether the surveillance continued, but concerns grew that their work and criticism of the government made them targets. This violated their rights to privacy, free expression, non-discrimination, and due process.
A hard fought victory
In January 2025, Mexico’s Attorney General officially dismissed all proceedings against them. The pressure from activists like you helped shine a light on these injustices, contributing to this win. Your voice made a difference, proving that solidarity and action can help protect human rights defenders. Thank you for supporting them!
