Human Rights Watch called on the president of Mexico to take urgent steps to strengthen the federal government’s protection mechanism, stop harassing journalists who criticize the government, and ensure that prosecutors end near-absolute impunity for these crimes.
Within the framework of World Press Freedom Day, the international organization expressed its concern about at least eight journalists murdered so far in 2022, more than in all of 2021 and in second position after Ukraine, where at least 12 journalists have been killed, most while covering the war, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
“President López Obrador has not only failed to address violence against the press, but he also continues to use his morning conferences to harass and intimidate journalists,” said Tyler Mattiace, researcher for the Americas at Human Rights Watch, who also warned that ” this year is on the way to becoming the deadliest in history for journalists in Mexico.”
In this context, the organization indicated that Mexico is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists, in terms of the number of murders each year and because the authorities rarely solve these crimes or prosecute those responsible.
This despite the fact that during the president’s morning press conferences, government officials have displayed the names and photographs of people they claim are responsible. These are generally individuals who have been arrested but have not yet been tried or convicted, and sometimes have not been brought before a judge.
“Every day, brave journalists throughout Mexico expose themselves to the risk of violence or death to do their jobs and keep the population informed,” Mattiace said. “Instead of attacking and denigrating journalists, President López Obrador should support them,” she emphasized.
guarantee right
For its part, Article 19 recalled that 153 journalists have been murdered in Mexico since 2000, while communicators face a lack of freedom to practice journalism, and the scarcity of guarantees of the right to information, key to a democracy.
The organization called on the governments of Mexico, Cuba, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador to guarantee freedom of the press, independence and pluralism as prerequisites to guarantee information as a public good of societies.
Since it observes with concern how those who practice journalism in the region are increasingly facing the obstinacy of governments with authoritarian practices that tend to limit press freedom.