Remarks by Martha Ramos, Chair of the Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information

Political and judicial harassment has become a tool to intimidate, punish, and silence journalism.

Attacks from those in power are not mere expressions of disapproval. When an official publicly stigmatizes a journalist, the aim is to undermine that journalist’s credibility and send a warning to others who dare to challenge them. In Argentina, for example, the report documents an escalation in President Javier Milei’s attacks on journalists and media executives. In other countries, legislative initiatives seeking to punish alleged disinformation or criminalize the publication of information of public interest threaten to expand the State’s ability to prosecute those who investigate.

This pressure is compounded by the abusive use of the courts. In Panama, Corporación La Prensa faces twelve lawsuits totaling $12.5 million, brought by political figures. In Brazil, the report records 183 legal proceedings against the press in Alagoas. In Peru, journalists face multimillion-dollar lawsuits brought by business and political actors.

These figures reveal the intimidating potential of so-called strategic lawsuits against public participation, known as SLAPPs. Their purpose or effect can go beyond winning a legal case: forcing media outlets to spend their resources defending themselves, wearing down their journalists, and discouraging future investigations.

But no statistic fully captures the human cost of persecution.

In Nicaragua, for example, more than 300 journalists are working in exile. In El Salvador, more than 40 media professionals have been forced to leave the country. In Ecuador, organized crime has forced a dozen reporters to flee.

Every journalist who leaves behind their home also leaves behind support networks and, often, the ability to continue reporting firsthand on their own community. Exile does not always end the threat: it can prolong economic hardship, immigration uncertainty, and the psychological toll of persecution. Moreover, when a journalist must leave their territory, the community loses a voice that documented abuses and demanded accountability.

An additional concern has emerged in the United States for colleagues in exile. The excessive crackdown on immigrant communities has put journalists at risk, with some detained under the threat of being returned to their home countries, where prison undoubtedly awaits them.

The United States deserves particular attention. In September 2026, President Donald Trump excluded CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from access to the White House, prompting the television networks in the White House press pool to jointly suspend their coverage in protest. The report also documents subpoenas targeting journalists at The Washington Post and The New York Times, as well as an independent reporter, in efforts to identify confidential sources; an FCC investigation into The View; and measures restricting the length of visas for foreign journalists. These developments must be examined seriously: when access to government officials, source protection, or the ability to continue working as a journalist become instruments of pressure, essential safeguards of democracy are weakened.

At the same time, physical violence continues to claim lives. The report documents the killings of journalists in Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala, Peru and Haiti, as well as kidnappings and assaults in the latter country. Overall, impunity remains alarmingly high. Without effective and independent investigations, violence not only goes unpunished; it also fuels fear and self-censorship.

It is essential to investigate crimes against journalists and punish both the perpetrators and those who order them; adopt effective safeguards against abusive lawsuits; repeal laws that criminalize journalistic work; ensure the transparent and equitable allocation of government advertising; and protect the confidentiality of sources. It is also necessary for government leaders to stop stigmatizing journalists and for States to ensure genuine conditions that allow journalists to work without retaliation.

Defending press freedom means protecting those who investigate, expose wrongdoing, and inform the public, even when their revelations make those in power uncomfortable. It also means standing with those who have been forced to flee and preventing the displacement of journalists from becoming the permanent silencing of entire communities.

Press freedom is measured not only by the ability to publish. It is measured by the ability to investigate without retaliation, challenge those in power without fear, and practice journalism without having to leave one’s home to save one’s life.

Thank you very much.