Date of issue: February 9, 2026
Location: Tonalá, Chiapas, Mexico
Code: CDHDO-MEX-01-2026
Type of risk: Physical assault, death threats, harassment, imminent risk
Person at risk: Poulette Celene Hernández, Human Rights Defender
This human rights center has documented physical attacks and death threats against human rights defender Poulette Celene Hernández in the municipality of Tonalá, Istmo-Costa region of the state of Chiapas, Mexico. Recent events show a pattern of harassment and high risk, raising urgent concerns for her life, physical integrity, and personal safety.
Description of the events:
• February 8, 2026, approximately 5:00 p.m.:
Three individuals—two women and one man—went to the defender’s home in the Colonia Democrática Chiapaneca neighborhood of Tonalá, Chiapas, demanding that she leave the property. They then began to insult her, threaten her, and physically assault her with violence, constituting a direct attack on her safety.
• February 7, 2026, approximately 10:00 p.m.:
Four individuals on two motorcycles arrived outside her home requesting to speak with her. Upon observing the presence of other people inside the house, they left, but not before threatening to return, constituting prior acts of intimidation.
A criminal complaint has been filed under case number 070-2026 with the Attorney General’s Office of the State of Chiapas, Istmo Costa Region. We therefore request that due diligence be exercised and that the violent and disproportionate conduct against the defender be punished.
Background:
Poulette Celene Hernández is a lawyer and human rights defender. She coordinates work with women in the Costa region of Chiapas, accompanying victims of violence and strengthening training processes in women’s human rights, community health, and agroecology. Her work takes place in contexts of high vulnerability and risk for defenders. In recent days, she has denounced attempts at dispossession by the Interoceanic Corridor, as well as collusion between criminal groups and authorities in the region.
We call on the Mexican authorities to:
1. Adopt urgent, effective, and coordinated protection measures with the defender, guaranteeing her life, physical integrity, and safety.
2. Implement security measures at her home and in her surroundings, including preventive surveillance and immediate response mechanisms.
3. Investigate the facts with due diligence, a gender perspective, and a differentiated approach for defenders, ensuring the prosecution of case 070-2026 and the punishment of those responsible.
4. Publicly recognize the legitimate human rights defense work carried out by the victim and refrain from any act of criminalization or stigmatization.
5. Coordinate actions with the Federal Government’s Protection Mechanism for Human Rights Defenders and Journalists.
Denunciation published by Digna Ochoa Human Rights Center in Tonalá.
Translation by Schools for Chiapas.