In just three days, unknown individuals perpetrated two raids of the Chiapas offices of the Fray Matías de Córdova Human Rights Center, resulting in the theft of equipment and sensitive documentation regarding its work defending human rights and accompanying people on the move. The first raid took place in the early hours of 20 March, when unidentified subjects entered its premises, tampered with the security cameras, and stole electronic equipment. Two days later, on Sunday 22 March, a second raid took place, despite the Fray Matías Center having filed a report with the relevant authorities and requested security and protection for the premises. Both incidents were also reported to the Mechanism for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Journalists.

As a result of these serious attacks, which seek to intimidate, obstruct and dismantle their defense work, Fray Matías Center members have expressed concern about their personal integrity and safety. The organization has also denounced that this second attack took place amid the negligence and lack of response from the authorities responsible for ensuring its safety and from the Mechanism for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders.

The National Network of Women Human Rights Defenders in Mexico and IM-Defensoras express our concern about these attacks, which seriously undermine the significant and widely recognized defense work that the Fray Matías Center has carried out without interruption for 29 years. We condemn these acts aimed at inhibiting their defense work and that place the integrity and security of both their team members and the people they accompany who face situations of displacement and mobility at high risk.

We demand that the authorities carry out an immediate and prompt investigation regarding these events, and that they urgently implement protection measures to guarantee the security and protection of all people involved in the organization, and that they be able to continue their work defending rights. 

We also call on national organizations and the international community to recognize and embody support for the important human rights work that the Fray Matías Center conducts in Chiapas.