Mexican state legislators approved a constitutional reform that will allow federal authorities to investigate crimes against journalists, reported the newspaper La Jornada on Thursday, June 7. In March, the Senate approved a proposal to make crimes against journalists federal jurisdiction, which before were dealt with locally. But, because this was a constitutional reform, the new measure also required the approval of the majority of the 31 Mexican state legislators.
International entities, such as the Human Rights Committee of the United Nations, the Inter American Commission of Human Rights, and the Report of the UN Special Rapporteur have recommended Mexico take this legislative measure, reported the organization Article 19.
A second law is still needed to determine which cases of attacks against journalists will be taken to the federal level. F or now, authorities will choose which cases will be transferred at their own discretion, explained the organization.
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.
