Foundation for Press Freedom – FLIP

Articles by Foundation for Press Freedom – FLIP

How the Colombian press can be strengthened by Inter-American Court reparation measures

On October 18th, 2021, the Inter-American Court released a historic judgment on the analysis of sexual violence as a way to silence female journalists. The court found the Colombian State responsible for not guaranteeing the rights of journalist Jineth Bedoya Lima. In 2000, Jineth was a victim of kidnapping, torture and sexual abuse.

“Physical, sexual and psychological torture of Jineth Bedoya could not have been carried out without the collaboration of the State”: IACtHR ruling

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) issued a historic ruling in the case of journalist Jineth Bedoya Lima against Colombia, in which it analyzes for the first time the use of sexual violence as a form of silencing and control against a woman journalist in the context of the Colombian armed conflict.

Journalist Jineth Bedoya Lima, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, 12 March 2018, Photo: stephan-roehl.de, Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Colombia revictimizes and impedes access to justice for Jineth Bedoya Lima

Colombia’s National Agency for Legal Defense alleged that the majority of the Inter-American Court’s judges are not impartial in the case. The State decided to leave the hearing, and the State’s witness did not appear to testify before the Court.

Press conference by the international mission, Mexico City, 6 November 2019, Photo credit: CENCOS

Mexico: Setbacks to freedom of expression in 2020

One year after an International Mission to Mexico, the government has failed to fulfil its commitments, and the freedom of expression situation in the country is worsening.

Why are we under surveillance? Questions for President Iván Duque’s government and the Colombian Army

Despite the information available, we are unable to fully comprehend the extent of the illegal actions ordered by a security force that, rather than persecuting and stigmatising us, has an obligation to provide guarantees for our work as journalists.

FLIP condemns massive surveillance, profiling of local and international journalists by Colombian army

Profiling and surveillance – practices characteristic of authoritarian regimes – contravene the government’s freedom of expression obligations and raise questions about society’s right to information and guarantees for the work of journalists.

Press conference by the international mission, Mexico City, 6 November 2019, Photo credit: CENCOS

Mexican government declines to recognize freedom of expression crisis

An international mission comprised of 17 international organizations underscores its concern regarding the lack of guarantees offered by the Mexican state to solve the country’s grave freedom of expression crisis and the state’s failure to recognize the seriousness of the problem.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (3rdL) and his team attend a meeting with RSF General Secretary Christophe Deloire (3rdR), OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Desir (2ndR) and human rights activist Fultura Kusari (R) in Bratislava, 2 March 2018, to discuss the investigation of Jan Kuciak's murder, VLADIMIR SIMICEK/AFP/Getty Images

On heels of Slovakia and Malta murders, European Commission urged to take the lead to protect journalists

In a joint open letter to Mr Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, organisations urge EC officials to ensure that police investigations are full, thorough and independent in Slovakia and Malta.