OAS Secretary General Albert Ramdin (center) welcomed the IAPA delegation.
Washington, D.C. (August 6, 2025) — A delegation from the Inter American Press Association (IAPA) held a series of high-level meetings at the headquarters of the Organization of American States (OAS), where they expressed deep concern over the severe deterioration of press freedom across the hemisphere.
OAS Secretary General Albert Ramdin welcomed the delegation and listened attentively to the IAPA's concerns regarding the growing challenges journalists and media outlets in the Americas face in carrying out their reporting duties.
Representing the IAPA were its president, José Roberto Dutriz (La Prensa Gráfica, El Salvador); former presidents Roberto Rock (La Silla Rota, Mexico) and Michael Greenspon (The New York Times, United States); chair of the Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information, Martha Ramos (Organización Editorial Mexicana); chair of the Journalism in Exile Subcommittee, Juan Lorenzo Holmann (La Prensa, Nicaragua); and executive director, Carlos Lauría.
During the meeting, the IAPA delegation shared alarming data on the restrictions and threats affecting the press in numerous countries throughout the region. Key issues highlighted included the rise of authoritarianism, misuse of the judicial system to silence critical voices, stigmatization of journalists, violence perpetrated by organized crime, and the concern increase in cases of journalists forced into exile or internal displacement due to persecution and threats.
The IAPA representatives warned that this crisis is not only persistent but is also spreading geographically and risks worsening in the short term. They also sounded the alarm over the lack of effective protection mechanisms and the impunity surrounding many of these cases. They emphasized that political polarization, intolerance of dissent, and the erosion of the rule of law are all contributing to a hostile environment for the practice of free and independent journalism.
Secretary General Ramdin, originally from Suriname, listened closely to the delegation’s presentations and appreciated the IAPA’s constructive approach. In his remarks, he emphasized that under his leadership, the OAS will promote inclusive dialogue as the main path to address the region’s challenges. He stated that solving the complex issues affecting the continent’s democracies — including violence, polarization, and lack of prosperity — requires time, political will, and identifying "common denominators" to unite various stakeholders.
Ramdin underlined that his mandate as secretary general is focused on seeking peace and prosperity for the peoples of the hemisphere in a context of economic stagnation and declining trust in democratic institutions. “The challenges are many and urgent, but the only way to overcome them is through dialogue, understanding, and coordinated action,” he said.
The meeting with Ramdin followed the signing of a cooperation agreement between the IAPA and the Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM), a specialized OAS body. This agreement establishes a framework for joint projects on gender equity and diversity.
Later, the delegation met with the OAS Assistant Secretary General, Colombian diplomat Laura Gil, with whom they discussed both the structural situation of the press in the region and concrete initiatives to begin implementing the newly signed cooperation agreement. In this context, they explored opportunities to develop joint activities aimed at highlighting the challenges faced by women journalists, promoting training, and coordinating actions to ensure safe working conditions for all media professionals.
The IAPA welcomes the commitment expressed by OAS authorities and reaffirms its belief that only through joint efforts among regional organizations, civil society, and democratic governments will it be possible to reverse the alarming deterioration of fundamental freedoms in the Americas.
The delegation reiterated its willingness to continue collaborating with the OAS and its specialized bodies in defending press freedom and freedom of expression as essential pillars of democracy and human rights.
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.