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.
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.
UNESCO points out the increase in recent years in cases of harassment, detention and physical violence against journalists covering demonstrations. From Jan. 1, 2015 to Jan. 30, 2020, at least 125 journalists were attacked while covering protests in 65 countries.
The LatAm Journalism Review spoke with experts to find out what the deaths reveal about the effectiveness and performance of the Mechanism for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Journalists, which was created in 2012.
Journalist Jorge Miguel Armenta Ávalos, director of the outlet Medios Obson, was killed in an armed attack in Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, Mexico, on May 16, according to information published by the state attorney general.
As it has done with most things, the current COVID-19 pandemic has made its mark on the annual celebration of World Press Freedom Day (WPFD), recognized each year on May 3.
Given the wave of corruption that has plagued the region in recent years, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) asked the countries of the American continent to protect journalists and freedom of expression
At a public hearing before the IACHR, journalists from Nicaragua denounced that the precautionary measures granted by that entity have not been complied with by the Nicaraguan State, a situation that places them at further risk
"For us it is a total mistake. Reducing the risk for journalists to four criminal risks is not recognizing that the main risks and aggressions have come from the State in the last 12 years," César Ricaurte said