Lydia Cacho

Lydia María Cacho Ribeiro (born 12 April 1963) is a Mexican journalist, feminist, and human rights activist. Described by Amnesty International as "perhaps Mexico's most famous investigative journalist and women's rights advocate", Cacho's reporting focuses on violence against and sexual abuse of women and children.

Cacho is the winner of numerous international awards for her journalism, including the Civil Courage Prize, the Wallenberg Medal, and the Olof Palme Prize. In 2010, she was named a World Press Freedom Hero of the International Press Institute.

Background Lydia Cacho Ribeiro was born in Mexico City to a mother of French-Portuguese origin who moved from France to Mexico during World War II and a Mexican engineer father. Cacho attributed her refusal to compromise to her mother, who was shocked by what she called Mexicans' willingness to "negotiate their dignity in exchange for apparent freedom". Her mother also taught her social awareness by taking Cacho along for grassroots community projects into poor neighborhoods. She continued her investigations, however, and the following year founded a shelter for battered women. Feeling that the local police had failed to act on the girl's complaint, the following year, Cacho published the book Los Demonios del Edén (in English: "Demons of Eden") in which she accuses Kuri of being involved in a ring of child pornography and prostitution, based on official statements from his alleged victims and even a video of him (filmed with hidden camera). The book also mentions important politicians Emilio Gamboa Patrón and Miguel Ángel Yunes as involved, and accuses Kamel Nacif Borge, a Puebla businessman, of protecting Succar Kuri. The recording sparked widespread calls for Marín to be impeached.

The United Nations Human Rights Council advised her to leave the country, recommended that she seek political asylum in another country, and offered her legal assistance and assistance in gaining access to international courts. While being held, Cacho was granted the Premio Francisco Ojeda al Valor Periodístico (Francisco Ojeda Award for Journalistic Courage).

In May 2008, a few days before she was scheduled to testify at Kuri's trial, Cacho was almost killed when the lug nuts on one of her car's wheels were loosened.

Awards and honors In 2007, Lydia Cacho received the Amnesty International Ginetta Sagan Award for Women and Children's Rights, the IWMF (International Women's Media Foundation) Courage in Journalism Award, and the Oxfam Novib/PEN Award. The following year, she received the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize.

In 2009, Cacho was awarded the Wallenberg Medal from the University of Michigan for her work to bring to public attention to the corruption that shields criminals who exploit women and children. Cacho was a recipient of the PEN/Pinter Prize as an International Writer of Courage in 2010, which goes to writers persecuted for their beliefs. She was also named a World Press Freedom Hero of the International Press Institute.

A year later, Cacho received The International Hrant Dink Award, presented to people who work for a world free of discrimination, racism and violence, take personal risks for their ideals, use the language of peace and by doing so, inspire and encourage others. She also won the Civil Courage Prize of The Train Foundation, which she shared with Triveni Acharya for efforts against "sex trafficking, domestic violence and child pornography", and the Olof Palme Prize together with Roberto Saviano.

In 2017, Cacho was awarded the Distinguished Leadership Award for the Defense of Human Rights by the Inter-American Dialogue.

Publications As of 2018, Lydia Cacho has written twelve books, ranging from poetry to fiction, and including a Manual to prevent child abuse, essays on gender issues and love, and her international best sellers about Sex trafficking, Human Slavery and the relationship between child pornography and child sexual abuse like Slavery Inc.: The Untold Story of International Sex Trafficking, published in the U.K. Her books have been translated into French, English, Dutch, Portuguese, Italian, German, Croatian, Swedish, and Turkish.

2003, Muérdele al corazón / Bite the heart , DEMAC, Spanish, 2007, Esta boca es mía…y tuya también / This mouth is mine… and Yours too , Planeta Mexicana, Spanish, 2009, Con mi hij@ NO / With my child NO , Debolsillo, Spanish, 2010, Esclavas del Poder: Trata sexual / Slaves Of Power , Grijalbo Mondadori, Spanish, 2010, Los demonios del Edén / The Demons of Eden , Debolsillo, Spanish, 2013, El silencio es nuestro / The silence is ours , Artes de México y del Mundo, Spanish, 2014, Slavery Inc.: The Untold Story of International Sex Trafficking , Soft Skull Press, English, 2015, En busca de Kayla / In search of Kayla , Lydia Cacho y Patricio Betteo, Editorial Sexto Piso, ilustrado, Spanish, 2016, Infamy , Soft Skull Press, English, 2016, La ira de México / The wrath of Mexico , Editorial Debate, Spanish, 2017, The sorrows of Mexico , Maclehose Press, English, 2017, Ciberespías al rescate: en busca de Sam / Cyberspies to the rescue: In search of Sam , Spanish,