IFEX and IFEX-ALC are expressing their solidarity with ARTICLE 19 Mexico and Central America after an escalation in threats against the organisation by Mexico's president.
For over a decade, and irrespective of the government in power, ARTICLE 19 Mexico and Central America has documented violence against journalists in Mexico, one of the most dangerous places in the world to practice that profession. They provide support for those who have been attacked, work on mechanisms for safer working conditions for media, and advocate for greater government transparency.
Their work has subjected them to threats and attacks from various actors, and in recent years, from Mexican president Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) himself.
On 3 May – World Press Freedom Day – during his daily press conference, AMLO ramped up his attack on civil society, singling out ARTICLE 19 Mexico and Central America by name, and saying that he has reached out to President Biden to intervene, and for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to cease its funding to civil society organisations that are critical of the government.
This latest threat is another example of his government’s efforts to undermine press freedom and civil society, and to silence critical voices.
“The entire IFEX network, including the regional alliance IFEX-ALC, stands in solidarity with our ARTICLE 19 colleagues.” stated IFEX Executive Director Rachael Kay and IFEX-ALC Coordinating Committee President Alejandro Delgado. “These threats are unacceptable. Work done by organisations like theirs must be protected – and valued as truly essential to the sustenance of healthy democracies.”
IFEX and IFEX-ALC call on the president of Mexico to stop the stigmatization of Article 19 Mexico and Central America and all civil society organisations, and to respect the work they carry out in defense of human rights.
We also urge the Mexican authorities to conduct a full and transparent investigation into the threats that have been made.
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IFEX is a nexus for free expression expertise contributed by 119 member-organisations, spanning 70 countries and committed to collaboration and transformative advocacy. IFEX-ALC, which forms part of the global IFEX network, is comprised of 24 organisations in 14 Latin American and Caribbean countries dedicated to defending freedom of expression and press freedom.
