WHEREAS, lawsuits are underway against the editor of the newspaper ABC Color, Natalia Zuccolillo, and the journalist Juan Carlos Lezcano, for publications related to alleged irregularities committed by public officials in the exercise of their duties and former legislators
WHEREAS, these lawsuits filed against the media are intended to intimidate and exercise censorship over the work of the press
WHEREAS, there have been cases of death threats and systematic attacks via social networks with the aim of discrediting the work and oversight role of the press, and that elected authorities and officials are attempting to intimidate media outlets and journalists - as well as seeking to hinder the free exercise of their functions.
THE IAPA MID-YEAR MEETING RESOLVES
To strongly condemn the new attempts at censorship and intimidation of the media and journalists in Paraguay by groups in power who use the justice system as a tool for this purpose
To exhort the Paraguayan authorities to watch over the freedom of the press and freedom of opinion of journalists, as well as to guarantee full compliance with the laws of access to public information - as a guarantee of transparency for the public - as well as a guarantee for journalists in carrying out the noble task of informing the public and exposing acts of corruption through their investigative work.
