France plans to name Lydia Cacho, one of Mexico’s most prominent reporters, a Knight of the Legion of Honor on Friday, the French Embassy in Mexico City said.
“On International Women’s Day, France’s ambassador to Mexico, Elisabeth Beton Delegue, will present the award to journalist and defender of women’s rights Lydia Cacho,” the embassy said in a statement.
The honor is a “testimony to her distinguished work in defense of children and women victims of violence, her reporting on people trafficking networks and her contributions to freedom of expression in Mexico,” the French Embassy said.
The Order of the Legion of Honor is one of the best known and most presitigous awards that France confers on men and women, both French citizens and foreigners, for meritorious contributions to society or the military.
Cacho is an award-winning investigative reporter, human rights activist and columnist for the daily El Universal.
Her latest book, “Esclavas del poder” (Slaves of Power), examined people trafficking and its victims around the world.
Cacho has been the target of threats since 2005, when she published a book, “Los demonios del Eden” (The Demons of Eden), that exposed pedophile rings in Mexico operating under the protection of politicians and business leaders.
For revealing the crimes of Lebanese-born Mexican businessman Jean Succar Kuri and others, Cacho was the victim of kidnapping, psychological torture and police abuses, which she revealed in another book titled “Memorias de una infamia” (Memoirs of an Infamy).
Mexico, where more than 80 journalists have been murdered since 2000, is considered one of the most dangerous countries in the world for members of the media.
