The Diplomat
The Government of Spain yesterday “firmly” condemned the “brutal murder” of Spanish lawyer and human rights defender Cecilia Monzón Pérez, perpetrated on Saturday, May 21, in the municipality of San Pedro Cholula, state of Puebla (Mexico).
“The Government of Spain wishes to convey its most sincere condolences and deepest sympathy to her family and friends,” the Executive of Pedro Sanchez said in a statement. “The Government recognizes the courage and commitment of Cecilia Monzón, who dedicated her work to defend and legally protect women and victims of gender violence, as well as to denounce social and political gender violence,” it added.
For this reason, the Spanish Executive “demands the commitment of the state of Puebla to open an investigation to clarify the facts and identify and punish the material and intellectual perpetrators of this vile murder, in order to prevent it from remaining unpunished.” At the same time, “the Government of Spain calls on the competent Mexican authorities, at the federal and state levels, to deploy all possible efforts to effectively protect human rights defenders so that they can carry out their work without putting their lives at risk,” she concluded.
The sister of the murdered activist, Helena Monzón, has asked for the support of the Spanish Embassy to help clarify the case. For his part, the President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, assured yesterday that federal and state authorities are coordinating in the investigation of the “execution” of Monzón, which was perpetrated by “hired killers” who, “without any doubt, went after her”.
