Lic. Felipe de Jesús Calderón Hinojosa

Presidente Constitucional de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos

Residencia Oficial de "Los Pinos"
Casa Miguel Alemán
Col. San Miguel Chapultepec
México D.F., C.P. 11850
MÉXICO

Re: Bárbara Italia Méndez

I am writing to you to express my deep concern on learning of the rape, sexual assault and torture of Bárbara Italia Méndez and other women detained on 3 and 4 May 2006 in San Salvador Atenco.

I am further concerned by the failure of state and federal authorities to ensure an effective, prompt and impartial investigation of these abuses. I call on the federal authorities to claim full jurisdiction in these cases, and to prosecute those responsible.

Please ensure that evidence gathered in line with international human rights standards is incorporated into the investigation. This investigation should be full, impartial and prompt, to ensure that all those responsible for the abuse of Bárbara Italia Méndez and the other detainees are brought to justice, including senior officials who failed to prevent these human rights violations or ensure timely investigations.

I further call for the effective implementation of the National Human Rights Commission recommendations which were issued in October 2006, and for full reparation to be made to Bárbara Italia Méndez and all the victims of human rights violations committed in San Salvador Atenco, particularly the women who suffered sexual assault.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to urge that the Special Prosecutor on Violence Against Women and People Trafficking claims full jurisdiction in all cases of violence against women by state officials, in order to ensure that all such cases are fully, impartially and effectively investigated with perpetrators brought to justice.

My thanks for your attention to this important matter. I look forward to receiving your response.

Sincerely,

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