(IAPA/IFEX) – The following is a 20 April 2001 IAPA press release: IAPA, IACHR CALL ON GOVERNMENTS IN THE HEMISPHERE TO ACT TO PROTECT PRESS FREEDOM, COMBAT CRIMES AGAINST JOURNALISTS Miami, Florida (20 April 2001)-The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) jointly with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) announced today they are urging the […]
(IAPA/IFEX) – The following is a 20 April 2001 IAPA press release:
IAPA, IACHR CALL ON GOVERNMENTS IN THE HEMISPHERE TO ACT TO PROTECT PRESS FREEDOM, COMBAT CRIMES AGAINST JOURNALISTS
Miami, Florida (20 April 2001)-The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) jointly with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) announced today they are urging the Western Hemisphere leaders meeting in the Summit of the Americas being held in Quebec City, Canada, to take action to combat threats to press freedom, and in particular not to allow crimes against journalists to go unpunished.
In a joint letter to each head of government, the two organizations said there should be no statute of limitations for crimes committed against journalists, that cases of the murder of news men and women should be dealt with under federal rather than local jurisdiction, and that national legislatures should enact laws that would ensure those behind the crimes, as well as those who actually carry them out, are brought to justice.
Figures compiled by the IAPA show that a total of 232 journalists were murdered in the Americas between October 1998 and March this year.
Following is the text of the letter to authorities in the Americas, signed by IAPA President Danilo Arbilla, editor of the Montevideo, Uruguay, news weekly Búsqueda, and IACHR Chairman Claudio Grossman:
Dear Mr. President:
The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (ICHR) hereby wish to bring to your attention certain matters concerning freedom of the press in the Americas and express appreciation in advance for any initiative in support of that fundamental human right that may be raised at this Summit of the Americas in Quebec City, Canada.
The previous Summit in Santiago, Chile, wound up with a process that is very important for press freedom, in that it was decided to give support to the creation of the Office of Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression within the framework of the Organization of American States. Since then, this new entity has been fundamental for the defense of journalists and for the fight against various laws threatening press freedom.
We hope that this Summit will also provide an opportunity to continue promoting an agenda in support of press freedom in the hemisphere. We are sure that all the governments will undertake this commitment, as this freedom is essential for the right of every citizen and for the consolidation of democracy, both of which are well reflected in the Declaration on Principles of Freedom of Expression adopted by the IACHR and in the IAPA’s Declaration of Chapultepec.
The two organizations that we represent are committed to supporting any initiative that seeks to consolidate freedom of the press and democracy in all the countries of the Americas.
In this regard, we wish to stress how highly devastating for press freedom is violence committed against journalists and, in particular, the impunity that surrounds the majority of cases of journalists being murdered. The latter is critical as it is one of the major crimes against society because it curtails people’s right to information, free speech and the other rights and freedoms.
We will welcome any commitment that the Summit of the Americas may adopt with regard to:
a) repudiating murder and any physical violence against journalists and calling upon the authorities to comply with their duty to prevent, investigate and punish crimes and provide due compensation;
b) advocating that in the respective countries, legal responsibility for dealing with crimes against journalists be transferred to federal jurisdiction, with the aim of providing greater guarantees that the murder cases will be resolved;
c) urging the national legislatures to adopt the principle that crimes against the person should not be subject to any statute of limitation when they are committed in order to prevent the exercise of freedom of information and of expression or when they have as their object the obstruction of justice;
d) calling upon national legislatures to amend their laws so as to make it possible to bring to justice and punish the masterminds behind the murder of those exercising the right to freedom of expression; and
e) requiring the states in the Americas to provide the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights with all relevant information within their power on cases involving the murder of journalists, within the stipulated legal timeframes.
With the hope that these matters may be considered by yourself and the other honorable Heads of State and government in the agenda of this Summit of the Americas, we remain at your disposition should you require any further information concerning the issues to which we refer.
