General Resolution

Resolution of the 62nd General Assembly Mexico City, Mexico September 29 – October 3, 2006 WHEREAS the reports on press freedom presented to the 62nd General Assembly of the IAPA show troubling signs of deterioration in press freedom in the Americas WHEREAS violence by organized crime against journalists and media outlets has increased as have abuses by government institutions by means of administrative and legal measures against the press WHEREAS the IAPA has encouraged media outlets and journalists in Mexico, Peru and Honduras to seek common causes and strategies to improve situations that affect the free practice of journalism as has been expressed in the declarations of Hermosillo, Pucalpa and Tegucigalpa WHEREAS when press freedom is restricted, the public suffers the most because its access to information is limited. Without this citizens cannot protect their other rights and guarantees WHEREAS Principle 1 of the Declaration of Chapultepec says, No people or society can be free without freedom of expression and of the press. The exercise of this freedom is not something authorities grant, it is an inalienable right of the people” WHEREAS Principle 2 of the Declaration of Chapultepec says, “Every person has the right to seek and receive information, express opinions and disseminate them freely. No one may restrict or deny these rights.” THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE IAPA RESOLVES to urge media outlets and journalists throughout the continent to establish methods of solidarity to defend press freedom as a fundamental value of democracy to call on civil society to be aware of press freedom and promote and protect it as a fundamental human value for the development of people and society.