A group of UN rapporteurs on Monday urged the Chilean authorities to drop the criminal charges against the artistic group “Las Tesis”, author of the theme “A rapist on your way” and symbol of the feminist struggle at the level world.
Carabineros de Chile denounced ‘Las Tesis’ in June for an attack on authority and incitement to hatred and violence for a video in which they denounced the alleged abuses by the security forces.
A group of UN rapporteurs, including those responsible for the rights to freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly and violence against women, have signed a message in which they recalled that “the (Chilean State ) has the obligation to protect human rights defenders. “
“You should not persecute them for exercising their freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly. We call on prosecutors not to give rise to the criminal accusation against them presented by the Police,” they have claimed, recalling that ‘Las Tesis’ have played a “key” role in denouncing violence against women and the police.
In this sense, they fear that a trial against the Chilean group “could have a chilling effect on women in many other countries who are defending their Human Rights.”
Likewise, they have expressed concern about the possibility that the support provided by certain authorities to the criminal indictment could “stigmatize and ostracize women human rights defenders, contrary to international human rights standards.”
The rapporteurs, who have transferred their complaints to the Government of Sebastián Piñera, recalled that diversity of opinion and expression “is necessary in a democratic society.” “Chile must protect freedom of expression and cultural expression because these freedoms contribute to a democratic society.”
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