PUEBLA, Mexico (March 9, 2013).—The Inter American Press Association (IAPA), during its Midyear Meeting in Puebla, Mexico (March 8 - 11), issued the following statement in which it expresses its concern at the process of reforms of the Inter-American Human Rights System (IAHRS) being propelled by the Organization of American States (OAS).
INTER AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION DECLARATION
With a view to the process of reforms of the Inter-American System of Protection of Human Rights agreed to by the OAS member governments, with particular impact on the functioning of the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights and the performance of the Office of Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression;
The IAPA is concerned at the intention of said governments to condition their financial support of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on its being transformed into an entity of mere promotion of rights and removing its dealing with denunciations of violations for which those are responsible, for actions or omissions, so that the effects be reduced and there be interference in the procedures for the taking of precautionary measures of urgent protection and in serious cases that the Commission itself requires of the governments, with the objective that the right to life and personal integrity of victims, in particular of journalists, be assured;
Pointing out that human rights and freedom of expression and of the press, within these, are rights and not concessions of those in government, who rather are required to respect them and guarantee them;
Acknowledging that the OAS Office of Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, in particular, has carried out important work as a critical observer of the behavior of the governments that attack the independent or critical press, create state information monopolies that go against pluralism of ideas and information, at the same time denouncing murders of journalists and attacks they are subjected to because of their profession within a framework of impunity encouraged by such governments;
Given that on March 22, 2013 there will have to be an extraordinary General Assembly of the Organization of American States with the objective of considering the proposals on the process of reform of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and of the Office of Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression;
The Inter American Press Association states, and wishes it to be known, in the name of editors, publishers and reporters in the Americas that is remaining alert and will publicly and in all instances denounce all that which could weaken the powers of said System, the human rights protective measures that the Commission adopts and the preventative and denunciation role that the Office of Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression performs.
The IAPA is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the defense and promotion of freedom of the press and of expression in the Americas. It is made up of more than 1,300 print publications from throughout the Western Hemisphere and is based in Miami, Florida. For more information please go to http://www.sipiapa.org.
