Freedom of Expression

Press Release R 75/14

Quote of the day

The ideal of free men enjoying freedom from fear and want can be achieved only if conditions are created whereby everyone may enjoy his economic, social, and cultural rights, as well as his civil and political rights

American Convention on Human Rights

Links

PRESS RELEASE

 

R 75/14

 

OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR PRESENTS REPORT ON VIOLENCE AGAINST JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA WORKERS

 

Washington D.C., July 21, 2014. – In response to the grave acts of violence committed against journalists and media workers in the region, the Office of the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) prepared the report Violence against Journalists and Media Workers: Inter-American standards and domestic practices on prevention, protection, and prosecution of perpetrators, currently available on its website.

 

The report reviews international standards and domestic best practices on the prevention of crimes against journalists, the protection of journalists, and the struggle against impunity in crimes against them. The report includes the progress made and challenges faced by programs and mechanisms designed by some countries in the region to protect journalists and prevent violence against them; State obligations on protection of journalists in the context of public demonstrations and situations of significant social unrest; and the challenges specific to combating violence against women journalists. Specific recommendations are also presented to improve protection of journalists and further the fight against impunity for the crimes that have been committed.

 

The report was discussed in an event held on July 14 simultaneously in seven cities throughout the region. The event was made possible thanks to the collaboration of the Fundación para la Libertad de Prensa (FLIP) in Colombia, Article 19 South America in Brazil, Foro de Periodismo Argentino (Fopea) in Argentina, Instituto Prensa y Sociedad (IPYS) in Venezuela, IPYS in Peru, Comité por la Libre Expresión (C-Libre) in Honduras, and the Centro Nacional de Comunicación Social (Cencos), Artículo 19, and Periodistas de a Pie in Mexico. The discussion also included the participation of experts such as Carlos Lauría, with the Committee to Protect Journalists, and Rachael Kay with the IFEX network, and was supported by the Trust for the Americas and the Open Society Foundations.

 

Following the conclusion of the digital event, the participating organizations held local forums with the goal of promoting an inclusive and diverse discussion based on the report released.

 

The full report is available through this link, and the executive summary is available here. Also, you can find a video of the discussion in Spanish about the report here.

 

The report is especially useful for social organizations, legal system participants, and regulators seeking solutions to the worrying situation of violence against journalists and impunity thereof that exists in some places in the region.

 

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.