Violence Against Journalists in Mexico: In Brief

Summary

Over the past decade, at least 74 journalists have been killed in Mexico and many more have been threatened or attacked. Although violence against journalists is occurring within the context of a broader security crisis, the United Nations (U.N.) and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) Rapporteurs for Freedom of Expression have asserted that such crimes “attack the roots of democratic life in Mexico.” Perhaps partially as a result of international pressure, the Mexican government recently has reported some progress in resolving emblematic cases of journalists who were killed in 2017. Although some observers are skeptical of this reported progress, others remain hopeful that Mexico will take more decisive action to investigate and prosecute unsolved murders and prevent future crimes against journalists.

Congress has expressed increasing concern about freedom of the press in Mexico and provided foreign assistance to help the Mexican government better protect journalists and reduce impunity in cases of crimes committed against them. The U.S. government is focused on strengthening Mexican government efforts to protect journalists and on bringing together journalists, media outlet owners, civil society, and the private sector to play a role in monitoring and improving protection and prosecution efforts. Civil society organizations are planning to meet with each of the five presidential candidates competing in Mexico’s upcoming July 1, 2018, election and urge them to prioritize press freedom and journalists’ safety, topics that currently are not addressed in any of their platforms.

THIS will be SUPPRESSED.