"The Colombian Attorney General’s Office made three decisions this morning [March 24] demonstrating that its top official, Luz Adriana Camargo, intends to strengthen the institution’s gender-based approach. First, it has opened a special channel to handle complaints—which have gone viral on social media in recent days—alleging sexual violence by journalists at various media outlets. According to a press release, the office has activated the email address denuncia.acoso@fiscalia.gov.co 'to receive, direct and coordinate any investigations deemed appropriate, applying a gender-based perspective.' Next, Attorney General Camargo added a more specific measure. The press release states that, regarding the internal investigation—which Caracol Televisión disclosed last Friday [March 20]—into its journalists Ricardo Orrego and Jorge Alfredo Vargas for 'alleged sexual harassment,' the Attorney General’s Office has decided to open a formal inquiry. And third, the Attorney General has ordered that the controversial legal case against a citizen who accused Hollman Morris—the powerful director of the public media corporation RTVC—of sexual harassment be reassigned and reviewed by a higher-ranking prosecutor. The accuser, Lina Castillo, was accused by Morris of defamation, and the Attorney General’s Office had already formally indicted her before a judge.
Colombia is in the midst of a #MeToo moment in the media. The movement began with Caracol Televisión's announcement that it had activated its protocols to protect women who reported having been victims of sexual harassment.
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Just as the private conglomerate began to attract attention, several reporters broadened their focus to expose what has also been happening to journalists in public media outlets. Last week, the courts held a criminal hearing against Lina Castillo, who is being prosecuted for defamation."
