Freedom of Expression

Press Release 167/07

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A society that is not well informed is not a society that is truly free.

Advisory Opinion OC-5/85, IACtHR

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OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION REQUESTS EXHAUSTIVE INVESTIGATION INTO MURDER OF JOURNALIST IN BRAZIL

 

 

Washington, D.C., May 18, 2007. The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) of the OAS requests an exhaustive investigation into the murder of Luiz Carlos Barbon Filho, columnist for the weekly Jornal do Povo and the daily JC Regional. The Office of the Special Rapporteur urges the Brazilian authorities to investigate this crime swiftly and effectively so that the perpetrators may be duly punished and to determine whether the murder was related to journalistic activity.

 

According to reports received by the Office of the Special Rapporteur, Luiz Carlos Filho was murdered on May 5, 2007, in the city of Porto Ferreira, State of São Paulo. Two unidentified persons approached the journalist on a motorcycle while he was in a bar in that city. One of the persons shot the journalist and fled. Luiz Carlos Filho was nationally known for having denounced a sexual abuse network exploiting children and adolescents in the countryside of the State of São Paulo, in which regional politicians and businessmen allegedly were involved. 

 

The Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, Ignacio J. Álvarez, indicated that "it is especially important that in crimes against journalists the State investigate not only the direct perpetrators but also the instigators, the conspirators, and those whose did nothing to stop these crimes."

 

Principle 9 of the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression notes that: "[t]he murder, kidnapping, intimidation of and/or threats to social communicators, as well as the material destruction of communications media violate the fundamental rights of individuals and strongly restrict freedom of expression. It is the duty of the state to prevent and investigate such occurrences, to punish their perpetrators and to ensure that victims receive due compensation".

 

For additional information about the Office of the Special Rapporteur: http://www.cidh.org/relatoria/index.asp?lID=1