On April 16, 2009, a delegation of embassies from the European Union led by the current presidency held by the Czech Republic, went to Chilpancingo, Guerrero to investigate the serious security situation for human rights defenders in the state, which has been aggravated following the assassination of Raúl Lucas and Manuel Ponce, leaders of the Organization for the Future of the Mixteco People (OFPM). In attendance were representatives from the European Commission, as well as from the Czech Republic, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and the United Kingdom.

Upon arrival in Chilpancingo, the delegation met with representatives from the Tlachinollan Human Rights Center and the Organization of Indigenous Me'phaa People (OPIM) in order to collect information regarding the cases of Raúl Lucas and Manuel Ponce, the prisoners of conscience from the OPIM, the cases of Inés Fernández Ortega and Valentina Rosendo Cantú, and to understand the security situation for human rights defenders in Ayutla de los Libres. These meetings took place at Peace Brigades International's home. The delegation then met with representatives from the state government, including the Secretary of the Interior, the Attorney General, and the State Human Rights Commission.

The next day, representatives from the French and German embassies, together with representatives from PBI, went to Ayutla de los Libres, in order to talk directly with other OPIM and OFPM members, including Obtilia Eugenio Manuel, OPIM president, the four prisoners of conscience from the OPIM who were recently  released from prison, as well as the widows of Raúl Lucas and Manuel Ponce. Embassy representatives also held meetings with municipal authorities.

This trip to Guerrero was motivated by the serious security situation for human rights defenders in Ayutla de los Libres, and is an example of some of the actions that member states of the European Union can take to fulfill the European Union Guidelines for the protection of human rights defenders. These Guidelines have been in effect since 2004.

English