Miami (September 9, 2024) - An international mission from the Inter American Press Association (IAPA) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is visiting El Salvador this week to assess the state of press and expression freedom in the country.
During the visit, the mission will meet with representatives from media outlets, journalist associations, academia, non-profit organizations focused on human rights, and members of the diplomatic corps.
From September 9 to 11, while in San Salvador, the delegation, led by IAPA President Roberto Rock, director of the portal La Silla Rota, Mexico, and CPJ Latin America Program Coordinator Cristina Zahar, will meet with the Presidential Commissioner for Human Rights and Freedom of Expression, Andrés Guzmán Caballero. The IAPA and CPJ have requested a meeting with President Nayib Bukele and other high-ranking government officials.
Both IAPA and CPJ have expressed concern about the deterioration of press freedom in El Salvador, with reports documenting a general climate of intimidation toward journalists and media critical of the government, frequent stigmatization, judicial harassment, surveillance, and constant obstruction of access to public information.
In addition to Rock and Zahar, the mission includes IAPA members such as former IAPA President Michael Greenspon, Global Director of Licensing and Print Innovation at The New York Times, USA; Executive Committee President Gabriela Vivanco, editorial director of La Hora, Ecuador; Executive Director Carlos Lauría, and CPJ Central America Researcher, Dánae Vilchez.
The IAPA is a non-profit organization dedicated to defending and promoting freedom of the press and expression in the Americas. It comprises more than 1,300 publications from the western hemisphere and is based in Miami, Florida, United States.
CPJ is an independent, non-profit organization that works to safeguard press freedom around the world.
