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Preparation of a summary of the facts and legal proceeding relevant to Ms. Ochoa's murder. 

Letters in English and Spanish to Mexican government officials and departments. 

Correspondence with human rights organizations advocating a bona fides investigation of the threats and assaults of Digna Ochoa and of her murder. 

Preparation and distribution of English and Spanish language press releases. 

Articles: Stephen Jacob, "World Responds to Murder of Civil Rights Lawyer" The Lawyers Weekly Vol. 21, No. 30, December 7, 2001 and John McAlpine, "The Homicide of Digna Ochoa" 

LRWC and the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales (BHRC), sent representatives to Mexico City March 12 - 18 2002 to investigate and report on the progress and problems of the Mexican government's investigation of Ms Ochoa's death and the assaults and threats against her that had occurred since 1996. 

LRWC and the Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) nominated Digna Ochoa for the 2002 Ludovic-Trarieux Human Rights Prize, an award given bi-annually by the Institute des Droits de l'Hommes du Barreau de Bordeux (IDHBB) www.idhbb.org. in partnership with the UAE-Human Rights (European Lawyers Union) Ms Ochoa was the only one of the 12 nominees from the Americas. The prize was awarded on May 23, 2002 to Iranian lawyer Mehrangiz Kar.

LRWC/BHRC wrote a report in July 2002 of their investigations, conclusions and recommendations. 

LRWC/BHRC prepared a statement to be delivered at the October 18-19 opening of the Digna Ochoa Human Rights Centre by a representative of Global Exchange. 

In July 2002, Attorney General Bátiz announced the creation of a Special Prosecutor's office to assume responsibility for the investigation into Digna Ochoa's death. Margarita Guerra was appointed lead prosecutor. Since then there has been no significant progress made with regards to furthering the investigation.

Negotiations between the government of Mexico and the office of the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights have culminated in an agreement to allow experts to review the evidence. The parties are currently attempting to agree on the terms of reference for the experts and attempting to raise funding. The Canadian government is rumoured to be providing some of the funding for the experts. 

LRWC will be following this investigation closely. Any developments in this case will be subject of further discussion in upcoming newsletters. 

On October 18-19, 2002, the Digna Ochoa y Plácido Human Rights Centre opened in Mizantla, Veracruz, to commemorate the death of Digna Ochoa. The Centre, a project of Ochoa's family and friends, is dedicated, on the first anniversary of Digna's death, to her work as an internationally respected human rights lawyer. LRWC was invited to attend the opening. A joint statement of LRWC and the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales was read at the opening ceremonies by a Global Exchange representative. 

Stephen Jacob, "World Responds to Murder of Civil Rights Lawyer" The Lawyers Weekly Vol. 21, No. 30, December 7, 2001.

John McAlpine, "The Homicide of Digna Ochoa"

Gail Davidson, "Report on the Digna Ochoa Murder Investigation"

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