We manifest our concerns about Father Marcelo Pérez Pérez

26 CSO:s condemn the criminalization of the human rights defender Father Marcelo Pérez Pérez, Parish Priest of the Diocese of San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico.

Read the full pronouncement

We manifest our concerns about the risks of detainment, disappearance, or assassination.

Hereby, the undersigned national and international civil society organizations, condemn the request for an arrest warrant against the human rights defender Marcelo Pérez Pérez. Requested by the State Attorney General’s Office on June 21^st, 2022, to the Control Court and Trial Court of the Judicial District of San Cristóbal de Las Casas, as stated by the Diocese of San Cristóbal de Las Casas in its announcement the 3^rd of July. This request demonstrates that the justice system lacks objectivity, is biased, and has been used in bad faith to criminalize a human rights defender.

Father Marcelo Pérez Pérez is an acknowledged human rights defender in Mexico. He accompanies organizational processes defending land and territorial rights threatened by large scale investment projects, indigenous families that are victims to forced displacements, and collectives defending the rights of people deprived of their freedom.

Father Marcelo Pérez Pérez is an acknowledged human rights defender in Mexico. He accompanies organizational processes defending land and territorial rights threatened by large scale investment projects, indigenous families that are victims to forced displacements, and collectives defending the rights of people deprived of their freedom. He has also provided and facilitated mediation processes in the municipality of Simojovel, Chenalhó, Chalchihuitán, El Bosque and Pantelhó among others, where he has contributed to the decrease in levels of violence. It is not the first time the parish priest of the Diocese of San Cristobal de Las Casas is criminalized for his work defending human rights and, on several occasions, he has suffered from threats, harassments, intimidations, and physical aggressions.

Due to the risks that Father Marcelo is exposed to, in 2016, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued precautionary measures number MC- 506-14. These measures are still active and essential, however, not sufficient to guarantee Father Marcelo’s safety.

The undersigned organizations call the Mexican government to withdraw the criminal charge against Father Marcelo. We are deeply concerned that the criminalization against him will continue, that he will be detained, and risk to be assassinated or disappeared. For these actions we will hold the Mexican State responsible.

San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico

4th of July 2022

Acción Urgente para Defensores de Derechos Humanos A.C. (ACUDDEH)

Aluna Acompañamiento Psicosocial A.C. (ALUNA)

Alianza ConVida20

Cántaro Azul A.C.

Casa de la Mujer A.C.

Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas

Centro de Derechos Indígenas A.C.

Centro de Derechos Humanos Digna Ochoa A.C.

Centro de Derechos Humanos Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez A.C.

 Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Matías de Córdova A.C.

Comisión de Apoyo a La Reconciliación Comunitaria (CORECO)

Comité para la Promoción y Defensa de la Vida “Samuel Ruiz García”

Comité Cerezo México Comunidad EcoEspiritual de la Red de Iglesias y Minería

Desarrollo Económico y Social de Los Mexicanos Indígenas A.C. (Desmi)

Mesa de Coordinación Transfronteriza Migraciones y Género Guatemala-México

Organización Mundial Contra la Tortura (OMCT)

Instituto Mexicano para el Desarrollo Comunitario A.C. (IMDEC)

Melel Xojobal A.C.

Protección Internacional Mesoamérica Red Nacional de Organismos Civiles de derechos humanos Todos los derechos para todas y todos – Red TdT

Salud y Desarrollo Comunitario, A.C. (SADEC)

Servicios y Asesorías para la Paz A.C. (SERAPAZ)

Taula Per Méxic

With the International Observation of 

Movimiento Sueco por la Reconciliación – SweFOR México

Servicio Internacional para la Paz – Sipaz