WHEREAS of the 145 murders committed since 1977 there have been convictions in only 20 cases and since that date, according to the Foundation for Press Freedom (FLIP) 70 of these cases have become subject to statute of limitations
WHEREAS in December 2016 there will be the 30th anniversary of the murder of the editor of El Espectador, Guillermo Cano Isaza, without to date it being clear who were the perpetrators and masterminds of this murder
WHEREAS there is almost absolute impunity in the investigation into the hundreds of threats against journalists in Colombia
WHEREAS Principle 4 of the Declaration of Chapultepec establishes "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 GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLVES
to urge the Colombian Attorney General's Office and judicial authorities to strengthen the mechanisms of investigation so that they lead to the solving of the threats to and murders of journalists and the handing down of punishments that contribute to lessening impunity
to reiterate to the Colombian Attorney General's Office that it move ahead in giving priority to emblematic cases, among them that of the investigation into the murder of Guillermo Cano Isaza.
