Carlos Fernando Galán attended the opening of the IAPA’s 82nd General Assembly, held Thursday in the Colombian capital.
Bogotá, Colombia (October 22, 2026) — Bogotá Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán today signed the Chapultepec and Salta II Declarations. The signing took place during the IAPA’s 82nd General Assembly, which brings together journalists, media executives and experts in the Colombian capital from October 22 to 25 to discuss the state of press freedom and the challenges facing the news industry.
In his remarks, Galán reflected on his background as a journalist and emphasized the responsibility of public officials to protect the profession. “I firmly believe that efforts to protect, preserve and promote journalism in our country must begin with those of us who govern,” he said. He also reaffirmed Bogotá’s commitment to preventing any attempt at censorship, aggression or attacks against the practice of journalism, and urged other leaders across the country to follow suit.
The mayor also stressed that direct communication between authorities and citizens does not replace the work of the media. “Social media broadens the conversation, but it does not replace journalism’s investigation, in-depth reporting and questioning. That work cannot fit into the logic of immediacy,” he said. In this regard, he noted that his administration values both coverage of its achievements and scrutiny of its performance, emphasizing that creating space for journalism strengthens critical thinking, diversity of voices and democracy.
Adopted in 1994, the Declaration of Chapultepec sets out ten fundamental principles for defending freedom of expression and freedom of the press as cornerstones of democratic life. Since its adoption, it has been signed by numerous presidents and leaders across the Americas. The Declaration of Salta II, on Principles of Freedom of Expression in the Digital Age, updated in 2024, promotes the protection of these rights in the context of new information and communication technologies.
