Guatemala

“The press must be able to report freely and safely in regions like the Izabal department, which has become an increasingly dangerous place for journalists covering environmental and social issues in recent years” – CPJ.

Congress shelved a bill that would have endangered the rights of women and girls in Guatemala and restricted comprehensive sexuality education. It also would have criminalized anyone who promotes and facilitates an abortion.

In August 2020, Anastasia Mejía prepared herself for covering the city’s Indigenous Maya K’iche’ community, to which she belongs. She knew her subject that day, a protest of mostly Maya K’iche’ merchants, was important, but she had no idea that it would land her in jail.

Mejía is facing charges of sedition and aggravated attack for her alleged participation in an August 2020 demonstration against a local mayor in Quiché.

Guatemalan authorities must conduct a swift and thorough investigation into the killing of journalist Mario Ortega and hold those responsible to account.

Guatemalan authorities should immediately release radio journalist Anastasia Mejía, drop the charges against her, and guarantee that journalists can report freely without persecution.

Guatemalan authorities should conduct a swift and thorough investigation into the killing of journalist Bryan Guerra, determine if it was related to his journalism, and bring those responsible to justice.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Asociación de Periodistas de Guatemala (APG) express their concern regarding the hostile climate faced by the country’s press, and ask the next head of State to truly take responsibility for the protection of journalists, given that outgoing President Jimmy Morales will leave a disastrous balance with regard to freedom of the press.

Being a women’s rights activist in the country with the third highest rate of femicides in the world can be a deadly task. One that Norma Cruz has courageously taken on for the last 15 years.

After a review of Guatemala by the Human Rights Committee, Panorama spoke with representatives of IFEX and Cerigua to assess this State’s appearance before the UN body.

Local officials and mining company employees had harassed journalist Jerson Xitumul Morales since May for his coverage of a fishermen guild’s protests against a mining company. The fishermen blame the company for environmental damage around the area’s Lake Izabal.

IFEX-ALC condemns alarming levels of government corruption, censorship and inaction amidst journalist killings in Guatemala.

With 19 deaths and over 250 attacks on journalists since 2013, press associations have asked the IACHR to recommend Guatemala create a Program for the Protection of Journalists as soon as possible.

As a result of increases in the number of journalist assassinations, the attorney general is analysing the possibility of converting the Unit for Crimes against Journalists into a specialised prosecutor’s office or agency.

Governmental Decree 05-2016, made public yesterday, has the objective of minimizing the effects of strong rainfalls and protecting the lives of Guatemalans, however, it also exceeds the authority of the government in undermining three constitutional rights.

Felipe David Munguía Jiménez, a community leader and camera operator for Canal 21 television, was fatally shot in Jalapa, Guatemala on the afternoon of 4 September, minutes after leaving a community meeting.