IFEX Latin American & Caribbean Alliance

What do democracy and press freedom have in common? Why is impunity such an important issue in Latin America and the Caribbean? Watch this video commemorating World Press Freedom Day to find out.

The IFEX-ALC, along with the National Association of the Press of Bolivia will be presenting the alliance’s Annual Report on Impunity 2013 on 21 November, in La Paz. Bolivia is one of the countries in the region in which the impunity for murders of journalists is prevalent.

Supported by IFEX–ALC and AMARC, the director of Kimche Mapu Radio presented her case in Geneva to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, highlighting the difficult situation of indigenous media in Chile.

On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, IFEX-ALC calls on States to take measures against impunity, to join the necessary and constructive international observance, and to protect the work of journalists and freedom of expression advocates.

Organizations committed to the defense of democracy and human rights in Latin America and the Caribbean are denouncing a new anonymous threat on 19 April 2013, against the head and staff of the Office for Mexico and Central America of ARTICLE 19.

The report issued by IFEX-ALC describes the social, judicial, and political contexts which combine to create a landscape of violence and impunity for crimes against journalists.

The member organisations of IFEX-ALC, based on their commitment to defend democracy and human rights in 30 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, call on their respective governments and relevant OAS bodies to fulfill their obligation to review possible reforms to the Inter-American System in an open and public manner.

The IFEX-ALC Alliance believes that the eventual acceptance by Argentina, Guatemala and Peru of its recommendations presented for consideration at the UN Universal Periodic Review will contribute to necessary improvements in freedom of expression norms and standards throughout Latin America.

IFEX-ALC members respectfully suggest to our respective governments to ensure that the process of strengthening the Inter-American system does not result in a reduction in the impact in the region of the Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression.

IFEX-ALC values the pardon granted by President Rafael Correa, exempting three directors of the daily “El Universo” and a former feature writer from a sentence of three years in prison and a US$40 million fine, and refraining from pursuing further judicial action against the authors of the book “El Gran Hermano”.

IFEX-ALC calls for and invites the government to accept its responsibilities with respect to freedom of expression by accepting the UPR recommendations, and to comply with all international freedom of expression standards.

The first incident involves the onerous, disproportionate and unjustified sentence handed down against journalists Juan Carlos Calderón and Christian Zurita, writers of the book “El Gran Hermano” (Big Brother), which highlights lucrative government contracts obtained by President Rafael Correa’s brother.

The IFEX-ALC calls on members of the OAS Permanent Council, who will meet on 25 January 2012, to withdraw three specific recommendations proposed by a Special Working Group, which if approved could restrict the mandate of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression.

The final report presented at the conclusion of the Venezuela UPR process contained 148 recommendations, of which 95 were accepted, 15 deferred to the next stage and 38 rejected.

IFEX-ALC calls on the UN Human Rights Council members to urge the Venezuelan government to uphold the right to free expression.

IFEX-ALC reiterates its demands for an end to attacks on journalists and the legal persecution of community-based media outlets.