The U.S. government named freedom of expression one of three "specific challenges" in its strategy toward Latin America, along with energy resources and education, reported the news agency EFE. Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta S. Jacobson gave the remarks at a press conference in Madrid, according to the agency.
Jacobson said that in some countries "populist leaders [...] are oppressing independent media" demanding a "joint constitutional response," reported the website for the Spanish newspaper ABC.
The assistant secretary's stay in Madrid is part of a foreign tour that also includes London and Brussels where meetings will be held to discuss Latin American affairs and European support for the region, added EFE.
Latin America was largely absent from the public debate leading up to U.S. presidential election in November 2012, reported BBC Mundo, drawing criticism from some.
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.
