The IRCT condemns the (July 2010) killing of forensic expert in Ecuador (September 2010)
The IRCT is horrified to learn of the killing of forensic expert, Dr. Germán Antonio Ramírez Herrera, who has documented cases on extrajudicial killings and torture. We condemn this tragic event in the strongest terms possible.
Dr. Germán Ramírez participated in a national network of independent experts created by the IRCT member in Ecuador, PRIVA (in Spanish: Fundación para la Rehabilitación Integral de Víctimas de Violencia) and documented cases of torture and executions inside the prison where he worked. Because of his work, he received numerous threats against his life.
In 2008-2009, Dr. Germán Antonio Ramírez Herrera participated in a four-month training on the documentation of torture and other human rights violations together with 52 health and legal professionals. The training programme was part of a global project on the use of the Istanbul Protocol carried out by the IRCT in 10 countries and financed primarily by the European Commission ...
On 6 July 2010, PRIVA presented a number of cases documented by Dr. Germán Ramírez to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, Philip Alston. On the same day Dr. Germán Ramírez was killed under mysterious circumstances ...
http://www.irct.org/media-and-resources/irct-news-1.aspx?PID=13717&M=NewsV2&Action=1&NewsId=2720¤tPage=10
Ecuador: Killing of human rights defender and forensic expert Dr Germán Antonio Ramírez Herrera and fear for safety of colleagues
Human rights defender Dr Germán Antonio Ramírez Herrera was assassinated on 6 July 2010 in the Las Américas neighbourhood of the Quevedo district in the province of Los Ríos. Dr Ramírez Herrera was a forensic doctor in the Prison of Quevedo. He had documented and prepared reports on incidences of torture and extrajudicial executions in the prison and had previously received threats as a result of his reporting.
On 6 July 2010, at approximately 12:30, Dr Ramírez Herrera was shot twice after leaving his office. One bullet hit him in the mouth and the other in his stomach. Witnesses reported seeing three unidentified individuals in a grey-coloured car and one individual on a motorcycle.
Dr Ramírez Herrera participated in a national network of independent experts created by PRIVA, the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) member organisation in Ecuador. This network was created during a project entitled Prevention of Torture through Documentation and Implementation of the Istanbul Protocol which was primarily funded by the European Commission. Dr Ramírez Herrera had extensive documentation on cases of torture and executions within the prison. On 6 July 2010, the day of the killing, PRIVA presented these cases to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, Mr Philip Alston. They had also previously been presented to the Office of the Ombudsman and the Presidency of the Republic.
Front Line believes that the assassination of Dr Germán Antonio Ramírez Herrera is directly related to his activities in defence of human rights, in particular his reporting on torture and other violations within the prison in Quevedo ...
http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/12790