UN Rapporteur Visits Mexico to Assess Safety of Journalists

Mexico: Human Rights Experts to Launch Official Mission to Assess Safety of Journalists

GENEVA (23 November 2017) – The UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, David Kaye, and the Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, Edison Lanza, will make a joint visit to Mexico from 27 November to 4 December to assess freedom of expression, including, as a matter of the highest priority, the safety of journalists.

“Mexico is one of the most dangerous countries for journalists,” the experts said in a joint statement ahead of their visit.

“Media outlets and their journalists face pressure from multiple directions. While there are a number of mechanisms designed to protect journalists, the sheer number of attacks, and the impunity for those carrying out the attacks, clearly show that the current protection mechanisms are inadequate.

“This visit provides an important opportunity to see what changes to the institutional and legal framework and policies could remedy this situation. It also allows us to assess whether recommendations made by our predecessors in 2010 have been implemented.”

The experts, whose visit is at the invitation of the Government of Mexico, will meet legislative, executive and judicial authorities at federal and state levels. They will also meet journalists, media representatives and representatives from civil society. Their mission will take them to Mexico City and the states of Guerrero, Veracruz, Tamaulipas and Sinaloa.

The Special Rapporteurs will host a press conference to share their preliminary findings on 4 December 2017, at 12:00 local time at the premises of CEPAL, in Mexico City. Access will be strictly limited to journalists. They will later prepare full reports containing their findings and recommendations.

ENDS

Mr. David Kaye (USA) was appointed as Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression in August 2014 by the United Nations Human Rights Council. Mr. Edison Lanza has been Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights since October 2014.

As a UN Special Rapporteur, Mr. Kaye is part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

For additional information and media inquiries please contact:
In Mexico (during the visit): Ms. Azin Tadjdini (+ 41 79 752 0480/ atadjdini@ohchr.org) and Ms. Ona Flores (oflores@oas.org)
In Geneva (after the visit): Ms. Azin Tadjdini (+ 41 22 917 9400 / atadjdini@ohchr.org)
In Washington DC (after the visit) Ms. Ona Flores (oflores@oas.org)

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