Freedom of Expression

Press Release R228/18

Committee of Experts and Special Rapporteurship of the IACHR express their concern over the threats against journalist Noelia Díaz Esquivel in Paraguay

October, 30, 2018

Washington D.C., - The Committee of Experts of the Follow-up Mechanism of the Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women "Belém do Pará Convention" (MESECVI) and the Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), express their concern over the risk and insecurity faced by Noelia Díaz Esquivel, a well-known journalist and General Secretary of the Journalists Union of Paraguay (SPP). She received death threats on social networks after publicly referring to a feminicide that occurred in Asunción, Paraguay.

As a result of the incidents, the journalist filed a criminal complaint with the Public Ministry and requested the application of the Security Protocol for Journalists in High Risk Situations to the National Police. This situation of risk requires that the Public Prosecutor's Office follow up the case and guarantee an effective access to justice for the journalist, as established by the international commitments acquired by the State in terms of guaranteeing the right of all women to live free from violence and the right to freedom of expression.

Articles 5 and 7 of the Belém do Pará Convention state that every woman may freely and fully exercise her civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights and shall enjoy the full protection of those rights enshrined in regional and international instruments on human rights, as well as the obligation of the States Party to act with due diligence to investigate and punish violence against women. For its part, Article 13 of the American Convention on Human Rights recognizes the right of every person to exercise freedom of expression and generates positive obligations for States to protect journalists who are at special risk of being victims of violence and investigate the facts with due diligence.

Women journalists are doubly attacked for exercising their right to freedom of expression and for their gender, so they face greater risks of threats and violence. In this regard, the OAS General Assembly, in its resolution on the right to freedom of thought and expression and the safety of journalists and media workers adopted in 2017,[1] expressed concern "for the particular risks faced by women who practice journalism, who are also victims of discrimination, harassment and sexual violence, even on the Internet".

For all of the above, the Committee of Experts and the Special Rapporteurship of the IACHR encourage the Paraguayan authorities to take all necessary measures to guarantee the protection and security of journalist Noelia Díaz Esquivel and all women who may be facing similar cases. They also demand guaranteeing the right to exercise freedom of expression free from gender-based violence. In short, it is expected that the state will adapt to the commitments emanating from signing and ratifying the American Convention and the Belém do Pará Convention. 

The Committee of Experts is the technical body of the MESECVI responsible for the analysis and evaluation of the implementation process of the Belém do Pará Convention. It is composed of independent experts, appointed by each of the States Party from among its nationals, who exercise their functions in a personal capacity.

The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression is an office created by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to encourage the hemispheric defense of the right to freedom of thought and expression, considering its fundamental role in the consolidation and development of the democratic system.

R288/18


[1] OAS General Assembly. "Right to freedom of thought and expression and the safety of journalists and workers in the media" in: AG / RES. 2908 (XLVII-O / 17). Promotion and protection of human rights. Approved at the third plenary session, held on June 21, 2017.