Journalist protection mechanism set up in Mexico

The government of Mexico on November 3 signed into being what is called the Mechanism for the Protection of Journalists, which sets up an Advisory Committee made up of the ministers of Foreign Relations (SRE) and Public Safety (SSP), the Mexican Attorney General’s Office (PGR) and National Human Rights Commission (CNDH), in addition to members of the press as well as the Interior Ministry. Attending the signing ceremony were Interior Minister José Francisco Blake Mora, National Human Rights Commission head Raúl Plasencia Villanueva and representatives of the Attorney General’s Office, Public Safety Ministry and Foreign Relations Ministry. Blake Mora declared that defense of freedoms “cannot rest or vacillate,” stressing that the firm, unavoidable and decisive commitment that the federal government has to freedom of expression. He said that attacks upon journalists are unacceptable and one more reason to pursue the battle against crime and for safety. He referred to the new Mechanism as “just a first step and significant part of the federal government’s effort to put under way specific policies for the protection of journalists.” With this Mechanism what is established is an institutional and governmental support of all the entities responsible for public safety “with the aim of preventing actions attacking those who practice journalism,” he added. The final objective, he declared, is that journalists may be able to do their job in a climate of conviction in which order and lawfulness prevail.