Freedom of Expression

Press Release 188/08

PRESS RELEASE

PREN 188/08

OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION PRESENTS ITS 2007 ANNUAL REPORT

Washington, D.C., April 4, 2008 – In its evaluation of the situation of freedom of expression in the Americas in 2007, the Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) of the OAS drew attention to the murders of communicators and to the attacks and threats directed at journalists during the year. It also drew attention to a growing trend on the part of the government authorities to make recurrent use of more subtle methods for coercing the media that have a negative impact on the diversity of sources of information. On April 3, the IACHR presented its annual report to the Committee on Juridical and Political Affairs of the Organization of American States (OAS), Volume III of which contains the Report of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression.

The report of the Office of the Special Rapporteur records 16 murders in 2007 for reasons that could be connected with the exercise of freedom of expression. It also notes that violence against journalists has been a continuing fact in the region, made all the more complex insofar as some attacks are perpetrated by private persons, and all more serious due to impunity. The annual report also highlights the existence of a trend on the part of official authorities to use subtle methods for coercing the media, such as shutdowns of channels or embargos on programs that make the government uncomfortable, or proceedings to review concessions or the failure to renew licenses of media critical of the government by entities that are not independent, that are subject to political pressure, and that operate without the due process.

This annual report covers the activities carried out from January to December 2007, during which time the Office was under the responsibility and direction of then-Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression Ignacio J. Alvarez.

In addition to a detailed evaluation of the situation of the right to freedom of expression in the hemisphere, the report of the Office of the Special Rapporteur includes a specific analysis of the exercise of this right in each country in the region. The annual report includes general conclusions on the situation of freedom of expression in the region, on the basis of which it offers a number of recommendations to the member states of the OAS with a view to improving the conditions necessary for the full exercise of freedom of expression.

Complete version of the Annual Report in PDF

For more information on the Office of the Special Rapporteur: http://www.cidh.org/relatoria/

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