At a time of worsening press freedom in Brazil, at least 15 legislative bills seek to protect media professionals from attacks. Among them, there are proposals to consider as heinous crimes against journalists, to federalize the investigation of these crimes, to toughen penalties of bodily injury and homicides and even to classify the harassment of press professionals as a crime.
The government of Daniel Ortega intensified repression against the critical press through the police and the justice system. In 2020 there were daily attacks against freedom of expression, and 2021 opened with raids on the home of journalist Anibal Toruño.
At least seven journalists working in Latin America were killed in 2020 in reprisal for their work and two more while on a dangerous assignment, according to data from an annual report from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
In a move celebrated by journalists and press freedom advocates, Mexican officials announced the arrest of a former mayor in the 2017 murder of journalist Miroslava Breach.
One of the main missions of site Reporteros de Investigación of Honduras is to investigate the murders of its colleagues, as well as obstacles to press freedom in the country.
In almost a week of peaceful demonstrations throughout the Peru, journalists also became targets.
Mexico has witnessed an increase in violence against media in just 10 days. Three journalists were killed in different states, one more is missing and in videos spread on the internet, it’s possible to hear shots ring out during coverage of a protest against femicides.
Cuban journalist Camila Acosta has had to move 10 times, between March and October, replace her cell phone three times and has been detained up to four times.
Special reports reveal Mexico as not only the deadliest country in Latin America for journalists, but a global leader in that undesirable category. Along with Brazil, it is also one of the worst countries in the world for convictions of murderers of journalists.
Organizations have launched courses, training or guides on the subject and, more recently, started to provide personalized and free assistance to women journalists who suffer online harassment.