Freedom of Expression

Press Release R15/13

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PRESS RELEASE

R15/13

 

OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR CONDEMNS MURDER OF JOURNALIST IN MEXICO

 

 

Washington D.C., March 6, 2013. – The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) condemns the murder of journalist and director of the online news outlet Ojinaga Noticias, Jaime Guadalupe González Domínguez, which occurred on March 3, in the city of Ojinaga, state of Chihuahua, in Mexico. The Office of the Special Rapporteur expresses its concern and urges the Mexican authorities to take urgent action to establish the motive of the crime and to activate all the legal instruments available to identify and punish both the perpetrators and masterminds behind this crime.

 

According to the information received, on March 3, González Domínguez was attacked by armed men who shot him at least 17 times. After the shooting, the attackers stole his camera. According to the information available, before working for the web portal Ojinaga Noticias, González Domínguez worked for several years as a journalist for the weekly publication Contacto, but renounced his position after receiving threats.

 

The Office of the Special Rapporteur was informed that the web portal Ojinaga Noticias was suspended after the attack due to fear of future assaults.

 

Principle 9 of the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression states: "The 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."

 

The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression was created by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to encourage the defense of the right to freedom of thought and expression in the hemisphere, given the fundamental role this right plays in consolidating and developing the democratic system.