The year 2021 is shaping up to be one of the most violent and restrictive years against journalists in El Salvador, according to the Association of Journalists of El Salvador (APES, for its acronym in Spanish).
A recently published study revealed how journalists in Mexico and Brazil deal with the stress resulting from risky experiences in the profession, and how these experiences are connected to structural issues that affect the field of journalism.
A decision by the Supreme Court of Brazil recognized the right to compensation in the case of a photojournalist who was blinded after being hit by a rubber bullet 21 years ago. The sentence potentially opens the door for other journalists who have been injured in similar situations and are fighting for their rights to be recognized.
More than 20 years after journalist Jineth Bedoya was attacked, the Colombian State is judged by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. National and international media are paying close attention to the court's decision due to its implications for freedom of expression and women journalists in the region.
After two years of relative stability, attacks on journalists jumped 41 percent in Argentina last year and reached 82 incidents. In 2019, 58 attacks were recorded, while there were 51 in 2018. Data are from the 2020 Monitoring of Freedom of Expression Report, from the Forum of Argentine Journalists (FOPEA, for its acronym in Spanish).
The information on the profile of journalists killed in the last decade in the four countries of the region with protection mechanisms makes clear the need to strengthen them. The data was obtained during the development of the project 'In Danger– Analysis of journalist protection programs in Latin America' carried out by RSF with the support of Unesco.
In what is perhaps one of the most critical moments for journalism in El Salvador, the approval of the Law for the Protection of Journalists seems farther and farther away. The bill seeks to be very comprehensive, covering issues from labor rights to the different types of violence suffered by journalists, also including a gender perspective for problems affecting women journalists.
UNESCO report conducted more than 900 surveys of women journalists from 125 countries. Most of the journalists contacted said they had received attacks based on disinformation that sought to discredit them personally and professionally.
After receiving two death threats on social media in the last six months, Peruvian investigative journalist Paola Ugaz recently learned that the public prosecutor will not open an investigation in either case.
In Paraguay, 19 journalists have been murdered in the last 30 years, but few cases have been solved. The Bureau for the Safety of Journalists in Paraguay calls for effective measures to protect and prevent crimes against journalists.