WHEREAS the regime of Nicolás Maduro continues to obscure the few remaining vestiges of freedom of expression and press freedom, and independent journalism remains subject to a strict official policy of blocking the Internet, which also affects citizens on social networks
WHEREAS, during the election period, attacks by police forces and paramilitary groups against independent journalism increased in the face of claims of fraud, resulting in the arrest of dozens of journalists and reprisals against media outlets
WHEREAS the government continued to exercise blockades and restrictions on the Internet through telephone companies and service providers, which affected communication services such as WhatsApp, X, Signal, Reddit, and Microsoft Teams, as well as international media such as The Wall Street Journal
WHEREAS Conatel closed eight radio stations in different states between April and September and maintains censorship over television channels, which leaves the radio spectrum almost non-existent and continues to block the Internet
WHEREAS the authorities continue to raid media outlets, such as the newspaper El Caroreño, and the facilities of El Nacional, have been seized by the security forces for the last three years
WHEREAS the government hindered the work of the foreign press during the elections, restricted the entry of broadcasting equipment, deported 11 journalists, and harassed the offices of foreign media and agencies such as CNN, AFP, AP, Reuters, and Bloomberg with inspections by taxing entities
WHEREAS that principles 4 and 5 of the Declaration of Chapultepec establish that "pressures, intimidation, unjust imprisonment of journalists, material destruction of the media, violence of any kind and impunity for aggressors severely restrict freedom of expression and of the press," as do "restrictions on the circulation of the media or the dissemination of their messages, the arbitrary imposition of information, the creation of obstacles to the free flow of information and limitations on the free exercise and mobilization of journalists.
THE 80TH IAPA GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLVES
To express solidarity with journalists, media, human rights defenders, and citizens whose rights to freedom of expression and freedom of the press are compromised
To demand that international organizations that promote human rights continue to raise awareness about the atrocities of the regime against its citizens so that the persecution of critical voices, arbitrary detentions, and the criminalization of journalistic activity cease.
