Human Rights Activist in CDMX Receives Threats and Extortion Attempt, Federal Protection Requested
Mexico City, July 7, 2026 – Maria Fernanda Galicia, general director of the human rights organization Mexiro A.C., has publicly denounced that she was the target of threats and an attempted extortion. The perpetrators, who claimed to belong to the notorious criminal group ‘Unión Tepito’, demonstrated knowledge of her personal information, including her phone number, full name, and workplace address. This incident has prompted Mexiro A.C. and other allied organizations to demand immediate and comprehensive action from authorities, including her integration into the federal Mechanism for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Journalists.
Details of the Incident
The threats occurred on Monday, July 6, 2026, at approximately 11:00 AM, through a phone call. The callers’ possession of sensitive personal data was highlighted by Mexiro A.C. as an “extremely serious event that increases the level of risk to her safety, integrity, and freedom.” This alarming development has raised significant concerns among human rights groups regarding the safety of activists in Mexico City.
Calls for Immediate and Impartial Investigation
In response to the incident, Mexiro A.C., along with other human rights organizations and activists, has issued a collective plea to safeguard the life, liberty, integrity, and security of Maria Fernanda Galicia. They have formally requested that authorities:
- Integrate the activist into the federal Mechanism for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Journalists.
- Initiate an immediate, exhaustive, diligent, and impartial investigation to identify, apprehend, and sanction those responsible for the threats and attempted extortion.
The organization also stressed the importance of ensuring “adequate conditions for Maria Fernanda Galicia and all members of Mexiro A.C. to carry out their work free from any form of violence, threat, reprisal, negative discrimination, pressure, or any other arbitrary action resulting from the legitimate exercise of their rights, with a gender perspective, intersectional and intercultural approach.”
Pattern of Intimidation and State Obligations
Mexiro A.C. underscored that these recent threats are not isolated incidents. In April 2024, Maria Fernanda Galicia was subjected to a digital threat, which led to her inclusion in the Mexico City Protection Mechanism for Human Rights Defenders and Journalists following a risk assessment and public pressure. The recurrence of such intimidation tactics against a human rights defender demands a swift, diligent, and preventive response from competent authorities, according to the organization.
Mexico continues to be one of the countries with the highest risks for human rights defenders. The Mexican State has a constitutional and international obligation, under human rights treaties and the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, to prevent aggressions, protect defenders, investigate incidents, and ensure they can perform their work safely.
Threats to Democracy and Continued Advocacy
Mexiro A.C. emphasized that “threats against a human rights defender do not constitute merely an individual aggression; they also represent an attack against society’s right to defend rights, participate in public affairs, and strengthen democracy.”
The organization reiterated its commitment to continue working for human rights, transparency, citizen participation, accountability, gender equality, and anti-corruption. They concluded by demanding that authorities act with the utmost diligence to prevent any harm to the life, integrity, and security of Maria Fernanda Galicia and Mexiro A.C.
Source: Infobae
