The killing of Silvestre de la Toba, Human Rights Commissioner for the State of Baja California Sur, and his son Fernando, is the first assassination of a State Ombudsman in decades. It’s a tragedy for their family, to whom we send our condolences, and a worrying sign of the fragile situation of human rights defenders.

Human rights are the pillar of every society. Those defending them and standing in for these fundamental rights need to be able to work without fear of reprisals.

The effective protection of human rights defenders is an indispensable precondition for the protection and promotion of human rights and democracy. There can be no impunity for crimes against them.

The EU firmly supports the important work of the Human Rights Commissions at National and State level in Mexico. We join their call for a swift and transparent investigation, in order to bring perpetrators to justice.