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Guatemalan monitoring network presents report on attacks against journalists during election coverage

"Last June, due to the serious situation of freedom of expression in Guatemala, Red Rompe el Miedo Guatemala [Break the fear network Guatemala or RRMG by its Spanish acronym] carried out an electoral monitoring of the aggressions against journalists and communicators during the first round of the elections.

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On June 24, 25 and 26, the Red Rompe el Miedo Guatemala carried out the monitoring of the conditions under which journalists and communicators carried out their work, given that in authoritarian contexts freedom of the press ends up being seen as a threat. The need for this monitoring came from an analysis not only of the electoral situation, but also by watching and documenting how the justice system has acted and the way in which it has affected the profession through criminal prosecutions as a result of their journalistic work during the current administration.

As a result of the monitoring, the Network prepared the report 'Electoral Monitoring First Round. General Elections in Guatemala 2023.' It  recorded aggressions against journalists and communicators, the type of aggression, the perpetrators if they have been identified, among other elements. These data appear within the framework of a brief analysis of the attacks recorded. Likewise, some conclusions and recommendations are presented, and an account of the records during the monitoring is given in an appendix."

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