The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) applauded the Jan. 18 legal reform that increased the statute of limitations for crimes against journalists in Colombia -- a change that is considered a step forward in the fight against impunity, reported Vanguardia and Terra.
The initiative, approved Dec. 29, increases from 20 years to 30 years the statute of limitations for violent crimes, like kidnapping, torture and murder, in cases of human rights defenders and journalists.
"The Colombian legislative and executive branches have made important strides as the leader in this battle on behalf of press freedom," said Juan Francisco Ealy, of the Mexican newspaper El Universal and president of IAPA's Impunity Commission, as quoted by EFE. “Steps which we hope will be mirrored by governments such as those of Mexico and Honduras, where crimes against journalists and impunity are the biggest problems facing the press."
In July of 2010, the Attorney General of Colombia declared a crime against humanity the killing of journalist Guillermo Cano, who in 1986 was shot to death by hitmen of the Medellín cartel. The declaration ended the statute of limitations, allowing the investigation of the case to continue.
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Note from the editor: This story was originally published by the Knight Center’s blog Journalism in the Americas, the predecessor of LatAm Journalism Review.
