The members of the International Press Institute (IPI), meeting at their 61st Annual General Assembly during the IPI World Congress on June 25, 2012 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, adopted by unanimous vote a resolution calling on the Mexican federal government to protect journalists and to end impunity for their killers.
Five journalists have been killed in Mexico so far this year – all in a tragic 30-day span in April and May. Mexico was the world’s deadliest country for the media in 2011 with 12 journalists killed, according to IPI’s Death Watch. A total of 53 journalists have lost their lives for reasons related to their work since the government began an aggressive campaign to combat drug trafficking and organised crime in 2006.
Few of these often gruesome cases are investigated and the perpetrators and masterminds are almost never brought to justice.IPI members resolved that the Mexican federal government holds ultimate responsibility for guaranteeing the safety of all journalists working within its borders – including those covering the ongoing conflict between the government and organised crime and drug traffickers.
As violence mounts and government corruption at the municipal and state levels persists, Mexican journalists are in more danger than ever. Fearing for their safety, an increasing number of reporters and media establishments have stopped covering the drug cartels and organised crime. This self-censorship severely restricts the Mexican people’s basic right to information about critical public issues – thereby threatening democracy itself. IPI members said they were aware of the complexity of the public safety challenge confronting Mexico.
IPI members called upon government officials at all levels to cease harassment of, and violence against, journalists and to uphold their duty to the citizens of Mexico by bringing the perpetrators of harassment or violence to justice.
IPI members called in particular upon the winner of Mexico’s July 1 presidential election to immediately prioritise journalist safety following inauguration, and to implement recently passed legislation designed to protect journalists and combat impunity.
The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), with which IPI has a co-operation agreement, fully supports this resolution.