CPJ, Amnesty International report finds systemic flaws in Mexico’s journalist protections

Mexico: Killings of journalists under state protection show urgent need to strengthen federal mechanism (Amnesty International/Samuel Blanco)

Yesterday, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Amnesty International published the findings of a joint investigation into Mexico’s Mechanism for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Journalists.

The report, “‘No one guarantees my safety’: The urgent need to strengthen Mexico’s federal policies for the protection of journalists,” revealed that the Mechanism failed to adequately evaluate risks faced by journalists and at times implements ineffective protective measures. Furthermore, eight journalists have been killed since its inception in 2012.

“After years of incessant bloodshed and corrosive impunity, the time is now for the Mexican state to take action and show that it is finally willing to take its obligations towards freedom of the press seriously,” said Jan-Albert Hootsen, CPJ’s Mexico representative.

Read the report and watch the press conference.

Global press freedom updates

Spotlight

Five journalists have been jailed in Senegal since last year in connection with their work. They include (clockwise from top left) Ndèye Astou Bâ, Papa El Hadji Omar Yally, Daouda Sow, and Ndèye Maty Niang. (Screenshots, clockwise from top left: Allô Sénégal/YouTube; Photo, bottom left: Marietou Beye)

Senegalese reporter Ndèye Maty Niang, also known as Maty Sarr Niang, would have jumped at the chance to report on the political crisis gripping her country since the president postponed elections in early February.

However, Niang can’t cover the news because she’s in a women’s prison awaiting trial, and one of at least five Senegalese journalists jailed since last year in connection with their work.

Journalist detentions in Senegal are indicative of a broader crackdown on press freedom and dissent, which has called into question Senegal’s reputation as a stable democracy.

Read the feature and watch our video on Senegal’s deteriorating press freedom conditions.

Separately this week, as part of the “A Safer World for the Truth” initiative, CPJ’s Asia Program Coordinator Beh Lih Yi, and partner organizations, met with the Philippine Department of Justice (DoJ) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to provide new and actionable information that could lead to the arrest of the alleged mastermind behind the 2011 murder of radio journalist Gerry Ortega.

Additionally, spyware against journalists and abusive lawsuits were among the main concerns raised in the annual report of the Council of Europe’s Platform for the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists released this week, of which CPJ contributed.

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