WGNRR Condemns the recent stabbing of 3 SRHR defenders in Chile

August 2, 2018

WGNRR condemns the recent stabbing of 3 young abortion rights activists and Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRD)[1] in Chile while participating in a democratic and peaceful protest, and urges the Chilean government to take immediate action to bring justice and protect the human rights of all SRHR activists and WHRDs in the country.

Masked attackers stabbed three Women Human Rights Defenders at a protest in favour of safe and legal abortion. One of the WHRDs was wounded in the stomach and two others in the back during a historic march in the country’s capital, Santiago, on Wednesday, where over 15,000 women were out in the streets supporting access to safe and legal abortion. [2]

Attacks on WHRDs and their organizations, moreover, particularly on those who work on sexual and reproductive rights, have devastating consequences. They instigate fear and may discourage WRHDs from continuing their important work on ensuring sexual and reproductive rights, while also violating their own rights to defend human rights; to liberty, freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association; and to freedom from violence and discrimination.

As noted by the UN Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms,[3] as well as by regional and international Human Rights bodies, States must provide security for WHRDs as well as an enabling environment for them to do their work,[4] as part of State responsibilities to respect, protect, and fulfill human rights.[5] When political leaders and government officials permit attacks on WHRDs and/or are unresponsive when cases of harassment and violence are brought to light, they impede human rights and are complicit in the perpetuation or even legitimization of the harassment experienced by WHRDs.

We at WGNRR thus urge the government of Chile to:

  • Conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of this and other cases of hate-motivated violence against SRHR defenders, holding perpetrators accountable and providing redress to victims, as called for by Human Rights Bodies.[6]
  • “Publicly acknowledge the particular and significant role played by women defenders and those working on women’s rights or gender issues in the consolidation and advancement of plural and inclusive societies as a first step to preventing or reducing the risks that they face,” as recommended by United Nations Special procedures;[7]
  • Ensure the human rights of WHRDs to freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and association, and freedom to defend human rights;
  • Take all measures necessary to ensure the effective protection of WHRDs specially those advocating for the right to access safe and legal abortion from harassment, violence and discrimination.

[1] By “Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs)”, we refer to women activists; men who defend women’s rights; lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and transgender (LGBT) human rights defenders; and groups committed to the advancement of women’s human rights and sexual rights. For more references see Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition.

[2] The Guardian. Triple stabbing at Chile abortion rights rally sparks outcry. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/29/chile-abortion-rights-rally-attack-stabbing

[3] Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, A/RES/53/144, 8 March 1999, Art. 2.

[4] Promotion of the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms: protecting women human rights defenders, A/RES/68/181, 30 January 2014, para 9.

[5]See Report of the Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, Margaret Sekaggya, A/HRC/25/55 December 23 2013, para. 100; See also the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, Report on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders, OEA/Ser.L/V/II.124, Doc. 5 rev.1, 7 March 2006, paras. 20, 21, 31-34.

[6] Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Discrimination and violence against individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity, A/HRC/29/23, A/HRC/29/23, para. 78(b).

[7] Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Margaret Sekaggya, A/HRC/16/44, 20 December 2010, para. 109.

Español

LA RMMDR CONDENA LA VIOLENCIA PERPETRADA EN CONTRA DE 3 DEFENSORAS DE DDSSYRR EN CHILE

La RMMDR condena el reciente apuñalamiento de 3 jóvenes activistas por el derecho al aborto y Mujeres Defensoras de Derechos Humanos [MDDH] [1] en Chile mientras participaban en una protesta democrática y pacífica, e instamos al gobierno Chileno a tomar medidas inmediatas para llevar justicia y proteger los derechos humanos de todas los activistas de DDSSyRR y defensoras del país.

Atacantes enmascarados apuñalaron a tres mujeres defensoras de los derechos humanos en una protesta a favor del aborto seguro y legal. Una de las defensoras resultó herida en el estómago y otras dos en la espalda durante una marcha histórica en la capital del país, Santiago, el miércoles, donde más de 15,000 mujeres salieron a las calles para apoyar el acceso al aborto legal y seguro. [2]

Los ataques contra las defensoras y sus organizaciones, sobre todo aquellas que trabajan en los derechos sexuales y reproductivos, tienen consecuencias devastadoras. Instigan miedo y pueden desalentar a las defensoras a continuar su importante labor de garantizar los derechos sexuales y reproductivos, mientras que también viola sus propios derechos a la defensa de los derechos humanos; a la libertad, la libertad de expresión, de reunión y de asociación pacífica; y a vivir libres de violencia y de discriminación.

Como se señala en la Declaración sobre el derecho y el deber de los individuos, los grupos y las instituciones de promover y proteger los derechos humanos y las libertades fundamentales universalmente reconocidas,[3] así como por los organismos regionales e internacionales de derechos humanos, los Estados deben garantizar la seguridad de las defensoras, así como proveer un entorno propicio para que hagan su trabajo,[4] como parte de las responsabilidades del Estado de respetar, proteger y cumplir los derechos humanos.[5] Cuando los Estados, líderes políticos y funcionarios del gobierno permiten ataques contra las defensoras y / o no responden cuando los casos de acoso y violencia son llevados a la luz, impiden los derechos humanos y son cómplices de la perpetuación e incluso la legitimación del acoso sufrido por las defensoras.

Por lo tanto, desde la RMMDR instamos al gobierno de Chile a:

  • Llevar a cabo una investigación inmediata y exhaustiva de este y otros casos de violencia motivado por el odio contra las defensoras por los derechos sexuales y reproductivos, hacer responsables a los agresores y proporcionar reparación a las víctimas, como se pide por los Organismos de Derechos Humanos.[6]
  • “Reconocer públicamente el importante papel que juegan las defensoras trabajando por los derechos de las mujeres o las cuestiones de género en la consolidación y el avance de las sociedades plurales e inclusivas como un primer paso para prevenir o reducir los riesgos que enfrentan,” tal como lo recomienda la Oficina de Procedimientos especiales de las Naciones Unidas[7];
  • Asegurar los derechos humanos de las defensoras a la libertad de expresión, la libertad de reunión y asociación, y la libertad para defender los derechos humanos;
  • Tomar todas las medidas necesarias para garantizar la protección efectiva de las defensoras  contra el acoso, la violencia y la discriminación.

[1] Por “Defensoras de Derechos Humanos (DDHH)”, nos referimos a las mujeres activistas; hombres que defienden los derechos de la mujer; lesbianas, gays, bisexuales y transgénero (LGBT) defensores de los derechos humanos; y grupos comprometidos con el avance de los derechos humanos y los derechos sexuales de las mujeres. Para más referencias consulte Mujeres Defensoras de Derechos Humanos de la Coalición Internacional.

[2]The Guardian. Triple stabbing at Chile abortion rights rally sparks outcry. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/29/chile-abortion-rights-rally-attack-stabbing

[3] Oficina del Alto Comisionado por los Derechos Humanos, Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, A/RES/53/144, 8 March 1999, Art. 2.

[4] Promotion of the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms: protecting women human rights defenders, A/RES/68/181, 30 January 2014, para 9.

[5] Ver el Reporte de la Relatora Especial de Defensores de Derechos Humanos, Margaret Sekaggya, A/HRC/25/55 December 23 2013, para. 100; See also the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, Report on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders, OEA/Ser.L/V/II.124, Doc. 5 rev.1, 7 March 2006, paras. 20, 21, 31-34.

[6] Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Discrimination and violence against individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity, A/HRC/29/23, A/HRC/29/23, para. 78(b).

[7] Reporte de la Relatora Especial de Defensores de Derechos Humanos, Margaret Sekaggya, A/HRC/16/44, 20 December 2010, para. 109.