IFEX Latin American & Caribbean Alliance

The undersigned civil society organizations express our profound concern and condemnation of the persecution against independent journalists and civil society actors in Cuba. This persecution has increased since the beginning of the year, particularly during the health crisis resulting from the coronavirus pandemic.

We, the member organisations of the IFEX-ALC network, condemn the arrest of journalist Darvinson Rojas in retaliation for his publication of information regarding COVID-19 infection cases in the Venezuelan state of Miranda. We call for his immediate release and for the charges against him to be dropped.

IFEX-ALC condemns the actions initiated on 23 January 2020 by the Ecuadoran Telecommunications Regulation and Control Agency (Agencia de Regulación y Control de las Telecomunicaciones, Arcotel) aimed at taking Radio Pichincha Universal, a public radio station, off the air.

Blocking the IACHR’s entry to the country denies victims the opportunity to be heard and seek justice.

The 24 member organisations of the IFEX-ALC network condemn the threats, harassment, attacks and censorship being perpetrated against media outlets and journalists in Bolivia within the context of the country’s current political crisis.

IFEX-ALC condemns the threats, attacks, harassment and censorship being perpetrated against media outlets and journalists in Ecuador, as well as the repression of citizens who have taken to the streets to express their discontent with economic measures announced by President Lenín Moreno.

Civil society groups issued a statement on the adoption of the Working Group Report for the Universal Periodic Review of Nicaragua and the government’s rejection of numerous recommendations regarding freedom of expression.

The FVBCH, IFEX-ALC and IAPA have submitted an Alternative Report on the freedom of expression situation in Nicaragua to the United Nations Human Rights Committee

We, the 24 member organisations of the IFEX-ALC network, who work to defend freedom of expression and press freedom in 14 Latin American and Caribbean countries and who form part of the broader IFEX network that defends and promotes free expression worldwide, express our deep concern over the freedom of expression situation in Honduras.

In the upcoming OAS General Assembly, scheduled to take place on 26 to 28 June, four new commissioners will be elected to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). IFEX-ALC members call on the governments of the OAS member states to elect candidates who meet all the requirements for the position of commissioner.

IFEX-ALC is sending a joint delegation alongside the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC-ALC) and the Inter-American Press Association (IAPA) to the UN Office in Geneva in the run-up to Nicaragua’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on 15 May.

IFEX-ALC demands the dropping of all charges and restrictions on Venezuelan rights defender Luis Carlos Díaz. Experts from the United Nations and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights have also expressed deep concern over Díaz’s case.

The organizations that make up IFEX-ALC support those who want the acquittal of former minister Daniel Urresti to be revoked. Urresti was exonerated despite testimonials that directly implicated him in the horrible murder of journalist Hugo Bustíos.

A video tells the story of how IFEX-ALC worked with its local member SPP, along with victims of impunity, their families, journalists, officials, and others, to bring this issue to international attention.

Venezuela is in the midst of a marked and alarming deterioration in the position of media outlets and conditions for carrying out journalism, as a result of ongoing harassment by state entities, coupled with the country’s economic crisis.

The case of Tulio Alvarez has sparked concern from freedom of expression advocates, who say that the criminal law should not be used to silence people who write about public issues.