A preliminary report by the UN Working Group on Enforced on Involuntary Disappearances highlights a number of ARTICLE 19's key concerns, especially in relation to the disappearance of journalists and the lack of information provided to their families.
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – 8 April 2011 – ARTICLE 19 welcomes the preliminary report of the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, following the group’s recent official visit to Mexico. The report highlights a number of ARTICLE 19’s key concerns, especially in relation to the disappearance of journalists and the lack of information provided to their families. During the Working Group’s visit to the country, ARTICLE 19 met with the delegation to highlight, amongst other issues, a number of cases of disappeared journalists.
“It is vital that the Mexican government implements the UN Working Group’s recommendations and immediately provides clear, detailed and reliable information to the families of the disappeared,” said Dario Ramirez, ARTICLE 19 Director for Mexico and Central America.
The impunity surrounding cases related to disappeared journalists has an impact on the right to freedom of expression, as it discourages these cases from being investigated and reported on, encourages self-censorship by media professionals and allows perpetrators to commit further violations.
Key concerns include the recent disappearance of human rights defenders and journalists, and the lack of a comprehensive public policy to assist the victims legally and psychologically. The Working Group’s recognition of the public security concerns related to combating organised crime is of utmost importance, as addressing it cannot be done at the expense of respect for human rights. Nor should the enforced disappearances be exclusively attributed to organised crime networks.
It is of the utmost importance that Mexico fully collaborates with the UN Working Group by implementing their recommendations and that it opens itself to international scrutiny by providing clear, detailed and reliable information.