(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is a 2 March 2007 ARTICLE 19 press release: ARTICLE 19 MISSION TO MEXICO Mexico, March 2, 2007 – From 21 February to March 1st, the Executive Director of ARTICLE 19 and the director of the Mexico office of ARTICLE 19 undertook a fact-finding and advocacy mission to Mexico to […]
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is a 2 March 2007 ARTICLE 19 press release:
ARTICLE 19 MISSION TO MEXICO
Mexico, March 2, 2007 – From 21 February to March 1st, the Executive Director of ARTICLE 19 and the director of the Mexico office of ARTICLE 19 undertook a fact-finding and advocacy mission to Mexico to assess the situation of freedom of expression in the country. The findings, presented at a Press Conference in Mexico City, on March 2nd, included the following:
The delegation recognizes and welcomes the important, indeed, ground breaking steps, taken by the government, in terms of access to information. The Mexican 2002 Freedom of Information law and the institutions it set up, with particular reference to the IFAI, stand as models for the international community.
We also welcome the steps taken by the Mexican federal authorities in 2006 to tackle the crimes committed against journalists, through the establishment of a special unit responsible for investigating crimes against journalists.
We recognize the 2006 steps taken by the Congress towards decriminalizing defamation, and welcome this week’s decision by the Senate Committee of Justice and Legislative Studies (Comisiones de Justicia y de Estudios Legislativos) to endorse the deputies position (dictamen).
However, the situation of freedom of the media in Mexico is extremely troubling and worrisome. In particular:
– In the last twelve months, up to 9 media workers have been killed, and 3 have been “disappeared”, and many more have been harassed, and threatened, including reporters working for community radios;
– Few have been brought to justice so far for these crimes, and an overall climate of impunity predominates;
– There is no appropriate legal framework for community broadcasting, thus resulting in community broadcasters being particularly vulnerable to threats and abuse of power, and insufficiently protected by the state and federal judicial systems, as the cases of radios Calenda, Nandia, and La Voladora investigated by ARTICLE 19 underline;
– The passing of the Federal Law on Radio and Television in March 2006 constitutes a major set back and obstacle to the existence of a pluralistic and independent media, and to public interest and community broadcastings;
– 31 states have criminal defamation on their books, carrying average sentences of 2 to 4 years and exorbitant fines.
This situation stands in complete contradiction with the Mexican government’s professed commitments to tackle violence and insecurity, and strengthen democracy, the rule of law, and transparency. Experiences the world over have shown that the Media is an essential instrument in the fight against corruption and insecurity, and in strengthening transparency and access to information.
Intimidation of journalists, particularly murder and physical attacks, limit the freedom of expression not only of journalists but of all citizens, because they produce a chilling effect on the free flow of information, due to the fear they create of reporting on abuses of power, illegal activities and other wrongs against society.
ARTICLE 19 calls upon the Mexican authorities to take immediate and urgent measures to ensure the existence of a diverse media, able to operate and report safely and independently, thus strengthening the Mexican population’s right to know.
ARTICLE 19’s full Statement is available on our website, at: http://www.article19.org/pdfs/analysis/mexico-report-statement.pdf
ARTICLE 19 is an independent human rights organisation that works globally to protect and promote the right to freedom of expression. It takes its name from Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees free speech.
