Impunity Mexico

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Resolution to the Midyear Meeting

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

April 8 – 11, 2016

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WHEREAS there continues in the country an increase in violence against journalists

and news media

WHEREAS in this period four journalists were murdered in Tabasco, Oaxaca and Veracruz states

WHEREAS according to National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) data from 2000 to January 31, 2016 109 journalists have been murdered; 20 are missing since 2005; there have been 48 attacks upon media since 2006, and numerous reporters are displaced, and this information was endorsed by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

WHEREAS noted is a trend of violence against women journalists, there being 84 such cases during 2015, according to the organization Artículo 19

WHEREAS this violent trend is particularly evident through open threats on social media

WHEREAS in Veracruz, Guerrero, Tamaulipas and Coahuila states the work of the press is carried out at great risk for journalists, both on the part of state and city officials and drug traffickers

WHEREAS there have also been reported numerous attacks upon journalists in Mexico City and in Puebla and Oaxaca states

WHEREAS the great majority of the cases of violence are not solved and slowness in the investigations is noted

WHEREAS the Special Prosecutor's Office for Dealing With Offenses Committed Against Freedom of Expression (FEADLE) of the Federal Attorney General's Office continues to lack a solid structure capable of effectively carrying out its functions

WHEREAS Principle 4 of the Declaration of Chapultepec states "Freedom of expression and of the press are severely limited by murder, terrorism, kidnapping, intimidation, the unjust imprisonment of journalists, the destruction of facilities, violence of any kind and impunity for perpetrators. Such acts must be investigated promptly and punished harshly"

THE IAPA MIDYEAR MEETING RESOLVES

to urge the federal government and the governments of the states most affected by violence to take the necessary steps to duly protect the work of Mexican journalists and, in particular, halt the bloodshed to which these professional are subjected

to demand a prompt and harsh investigation of the cases of violence against journalists and in particular the unpunished threats made to them through the social media

to ask the federal government to assign resources and the necessary personnel for the due functioning of the Special Prosecutor's Office for Dealing With Offenses Committed Against Freedom of Expression (FEADLE) so that finally that body can carry out its task of protecting journalists.

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