Miami (February 3, 2025) - The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) described as a landmark achievement the adherence of the presidents of Panama's three branches of government to the Chapultepec and Salta II declarations, considering this act a strong commitment to freedom of expression and press, essential pillars of democracy.
The IAPA President José Roberto Dutriz, CEO and General Director of La Prensa Gráfica in El Salvador, emphasized that "at a time when democracy faces increasing threats in the region, the decision of Panama's highest authorities to sign both declarations sends an unequivocal message of respect for plurality, transparency, and citizens' right to express themselves without fear of reprisals."
On January 31, Dutriz participated in a ceremony at the headquarters of Panama's Judiciary, where Supreme Court President María Eugenia López Arias signed the documents, completing the endorsement by all three branches of government. The Executive and Legislative branches formalized their adherence the previous November.
On November 21, 2024, Panama's President José Raúl Mulino reaffirmed his administration's commitment to press freedom by signing the declarations at an event held in the Yellow Hall of the Palacio de las Garzas (presidential palace), in the presence of an international delegation from the IAPA led by Dutriz. On the same day, National Assembly President Dana Castañeda also subscribed to both documents.
The Declaration of Chapultepec, adopted in 1994, establishes ten fundamental principles emphasizing the need to guarantee the full enjoyment of public freedoms and human rights, with the premise that freedom of expression drives up all other rights.
Meanwhile, the Declaration of Salta II, approved in 2018 and updated at the IAPA General Assembly last October in Córdoba, Argentina, adapts fundamental principles of press freedom to the challenges of the digital ecosystem, in a context where algorithmic opacity, misinformation, and new forms of censorship threaten access to information and the practice of independent journalism.
"That Panama's three branches of government have signed these declarations sends a clear signal at a critical moment for democracy in the region," Dutriz concluded. "Panama's leadership in this regard should serve as a reference for other countries where the erosion of fundamental freedoms continues to rise."
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.