The ambassador of the European Union in Mexico, Gautier Mignot, rejected that the EU intends to interfere in the policy of protecting journalists in the country, for which he asked that the diplomatic fights not distract attention from the real challenge that is security.
The foregoing is in reference to the disagreement between President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and the European Parliament, after the European deputies asked the Mexican authorities to guarantee the protection and security for journalists and human rights defenders; situation that caused the annoyance of the Mexican president, who sent a letter to the parliamentarians accusing them of committing a lack of respect and of being sheep.
By participating in the forum “Towards the construction of a comprehensive public protection policy“, organized by Article 19 and Espacio OSC, the European diplomat argued that the protection of human rights defenders and journalists in Mexico is a long-standing commitment in the EUsince only since 2011 they have granted more than 3 million euros to support 16 projects in the matter, among which are the strengthening of the technical capacities of the protection mechanism and also a campaign to make the cases visible.
“It is a priority for our cooperation in Mexico to actively accompany defenders and journalists. Dialogue between affected parties and authorities is urgent,” she maintained.
The diplomat maintained that the position of the European Union it is to want to help the Mexican authorities, its civil society, to confront the violence against the press.
“We see that our Mexican interlocutors are aware of the importance of the challenge that must be faced, I think they are willing to do so…In this dialogue, we as European UnionWe, Europeans, do not want to get involved, much less do you intend to apply solutions.
“We also do not want discussions and fights at the diplomatic level to distract attention from the central focus, which is the protection of people,” he stressed.
Likewise, he highlighted the importance of not stigmatizing the press and guaranteeing the right to defend human rights. He reiterated that the position of European countries is to support this context of violence.
Meanwhile, in condemning the recent murders of journalists in Mexico, Guillermo Fernández-Maldonado, representative of the UN-DH, expressed that there will be no public policy or sufficient law to stop the attacks against the press, if there is not a forceful fight against impunity, since in a context of generalized violence against the union, impunity becomes an incentive for the generation of more attacks.
Likewise, the representative of the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN-DH), reiterated that the protection mechanism for journalists remains insufficient without political will.
Forum: Construction of a public policy for the protection of human rights defenders and journalists https://t.co/wTC6b6zajy
– ARTICLE 19 MX-CA (@article19mex)
May 11, 2022
“You cannot expect the protection mechanism to be the only solution, this is something that should be temporary, it is not having a more powerful and comprehensive protection mechanism, it is creating the conditions so that it is not necessary,” he explained.
At the time, Pedro Vaca, representative of the IACHR He asserted that he criticized the absence from the event of the representatives of the Ministry of the Interior, and the Executive Commission for Attention to Victims (CEAV), who canceled their participation at the last minute.
“Hours before the start of this event, I was informed of the institutional hearings, in particular the government, I do not know why, I think they are very important because precisely what is happening in Mexico today with respect to violence against the press requires urgent and additional measures. to those that are already being taken in recent years and I do not find a better space than this to listen to the opinion of the authorities on the matter”, he emphasized.
This by pointing out that there is nothing more preventive of violence against the press, than a forceful institutional response from the State, hand in hand with guaranteeing financial and human resources.
“To reduce violence against the press and defenders, it is key to adopt a public discourse that contributes. The content of speeches and their repetition can configure the omission of state authorities”, said Pedro Vaca, Special Rapporteur for freedom of expression of the IACHR.
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