International repercussion of the case of Sandra Domínguez
Featured image: Sandra Domínguez, disappeared activist. Source: Proceso Mexico.
Sol Rojo Mexico denounced that Sandra Estéfana Domínguez Martínez disappeared on October 4. The family along with other rights defenders, organizations and collectives from Oaxaca were clear in their demands: “Because they took her alive, we want her alive.” Since the very first moment of the disappearance it was crystal clear that Sandra Domínguez is a well-known activists with a broad support and acknowledgment in Oaxaca. International institutions such as several branches and departments of the United Nations (UN) have referred to the case, for example the Human Rights Office in Mexico:
Even the Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) of the UN “has urged the Mexican State to make urgently a strategy, plan of action and timeline to immediately look for Sandra Domínguez”.
The case has achieved a big relevance among the Mexican media and there are dozens of references during last weeks. Also media from around the world is reporting on the case. Media which covers Latin America in general has also reported, such as Infobae, which defined Sandra Domínguez as a “key character in the defense of the rights of the women, particularly those belonging to indigenous communities”, as well as a “Mixe lawyer who denounced politicians of Oaxaca for spreading pictures of sexual content of indigenous women”. Mexican media based in the United States such as LatinUs has also reported on the case and defined Sandra Domínguez as an “activist which denounced the Oaxaca officers because of misogynist chats” and as a “Mixe lawyer and defender”.
Several outlet press from abroad of Latin America have reported on the case. For example El Pais (from Spanish State, through its branch in Mexico) has published an extense reportage in which is mentioned that “Sandra Domínguez, positioned herself in front of these monsters, and denounced the injustices in Oaxaca. She did not showed any fear when she spoke, but when she arrived home, knewing that the threats due to her work would continue.” During the entire article, the importance of Sandra as a lawyer and activist is highlighted, as well as her struggle against the abuses of the senior officers and politicians in Oaxaca. This newspaper has followed the case and recently has interviewed the second in charge of the Oaxaca government, ruled by the Morena, AMLO and Claudia Sheinbaum Party.
Several Yankee press outlets have mentioned the case, such as AP News, The Washington Post and ABC News which have defined her as a “(…) prominent feminist activist and defender of the Mixe indigenous peoples”. These newspapers have also highlighted the denounces made by Sandra Domínguez to Mexican State’s politicians, as well as the threats she received.
This increasing pressure and repercussion has forced the new president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, to react to the case. She stated that “the Secretary of Citizen Security, the State general attorney and all the required forces to find her are working. Yes, they are very aware and they are searching for her”.
All the media have in common the conclusion that Sandra Domínguez is a prominent rights defender and activist, specially of indigenous women, as well as they make clear that she was threatened due to her activity as well as she denounced senior officers and politicians.
People’s and democratic media as Periódico Mural have pointed out the framework in which this disappearance is occurring: “Unfortunately, today Sandra Domínguez is part of the more than 600 women who disappeared in the state of Oaxaca during the government of Salomón Jara Cruz and the more than 116,000 people who have disappeared throughout the country since the beginning of the war against the people that has passed through three stages: “the dirty war”, “the war against drugs” and the current militarization of the country.”
