The Committee to Protect Journalists joined this week eight civil society groups and press freedom organizations in a letter to the communications working group of the Brazilian transitional government, urging the incoming federal administration to adopt measures to protect press freedom and the safety of journalists.
In a meeting with representatives of the working group on Wednesday, December 7, the organizations briefly presented highlights of the letter, including their assessment of press freedom violations, violence against journalists in Brazil, and a list of 12 recommendations to the new administration that will start on January 1. The recommendations include reestablishing and strengthening the national protection program, ensuring investigations of homicides and other crimes committed against journalists, and decriminalizing slander and defamation, among other issues.
During the meeting, representatives of the transitional government working group committed to including in their final report to the incoming government the organizations’ letter and a recommendation to protect press freedom and the safety of journalists.
The full letter is available in Portuguese here.