The IWMF stands in solidarity with 2007 Courage in Journalism Award winner Lydia Cacho

The International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) stands in solidarity with 2007 Courage in Journalism Award winner Lydia Cacho following an invasion of her home, and urges the Mexican government to admonish aggression against journalists, which continues with impunity.

Earlier this week, unidentified perpetrators broke into Cacho’s home in Puerto Morelos stealing her laptop, several hard drives and other reporting equipment supporting her ongoing investigation into sexual abuse cases. The attackers also murdered Cacho’s family dogs.

Cacho, a veteran investigative journalist and author, has experienced repeated attacks in her decades of reporting, including threats of sexual violence, imprisonment and an assassination attempt earlier in her career.

This invasion continues a chilling trend of attacks against journalists in Central America. Mexico is ranked the deadliest country in the Western Hemisphere for journalists and has the highest number of missing journalists to-date.

In her acceptance speech for the Courage in Journalism Award, Cacho said: “Journalists are mirrors to the world … and that is why I cannot be silenced.” Yesterday, Cacho issued a statement, noting: “[This is] a new aggression against my myself, my family and my home … directly related to my achievements as a journalist. I won’t stop – we have to move from indignation to action.”

In unity with Cacho, the IWMF calls for the immediate investigation into these renewed attacks.