Lydia Cacho Ribeiro is a Mexican journalist who was imprisoned and tortured after publishing a book on a child pornography and prostitution ring in the country.
In her 2004 book, Los Demonios del Eden: el poder detras de la pornografia infantile (The Demons of Eden: the power behind child pornography), Cacho claimed there were links between the pedophile ring and a number of government officials, politicians, businessmen and drug traffickers in Mexico.
The publications of the book prompted repeated threats against her life and judicial harassment, and on December 16, 2005, Cacho was arrested and denied access to her lawyer and medicine. She spent the night in prison and was then released on bail of $9,900.
Amnesty International, who has recognized Cacho for her journalistic work towards upholding human rights, says that in response to the intimidation tactics, Cacho filed a counter-suit for corruption and for violation of her human rights. She thus became the first woman in Mexico to file a federal suit against a governor, district attorney and a judge for corruption and attempted rape in prison.
NewCorrespondent.com caught up with her at a recent Amnesty International press conference and spoke to her about her views on the current climate for journalists working in Mexico, recently rated the second-most dangerous country for journalists to work in after Iraq by Reporters Without Borders.
Filed under: amnesty international, article19, blood, brad will, ciudad de mexico, committee to protect journalists, events, freedom of speech, human rights, journalism, lydia cacho, media, narcotraffick, newspapers, police, politics, reporters without borders, television, video, violence, witness, women Tagged: | amnesty international, lydia cacho, mexico, mexicoreporter, reporters without borders, violence against journalists
