Protecting journalists at risk in Mexico and Central America

Venue: European Parliament, Room ASP 5E1, rue Wiertz 60, 1047 Brussels

Hybrid event, held in person with web streaming in English and Spanish

The first eight months of 2022 have seen a shocking increase in lethal violence against journalists in Mexico, resulting in the murder of at least 13 journalists. According to a group of organisations that is monitoring and documenting these murders (Article19, the Committee to Protect Journalists - CPJ, Women’s Communication and Information - CIMAC, Reporters Without Borders and PEN International), the vast majority of these murders could be related to the exercise of the profession of journalism. If this trend continues, 2022 stands to become one of the most lethal years on record for the press in Mexico. Impunity, lack of investigations and ambiguous messages at all political levels indicate that the risk for this trend to continue is high.

In Central America, the democratic space is shrinking more and more, violating fundamental rights like press freedom. Physical threats, several forms of harassments and risks for persecution have obliged many journalists to flee their countries.

Organised by the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung and the EU-LAT Network, this conference aims to shed a light on the current threats that media professionals are facing, hearing directly from journalists from the region. Panellists will discuss how the European Union can provide support through political initiatives and concrete mechanisms that protect individuals from old and new forms of violence.

Draft agenda

15:30 – 16:00  Registration

Moderation by Daniel Jimenez, EU-LAT Network

16:00 –16:10  Welcoming words by MEP Tilly Metz (Greens/EFA), Chair of the EP Delegation for relations with the countries of Central America

16:10 – 16:30  Presentation of the report ‘Dejar todo’, women journalists in a situation of forced internal displacement in Mexico, by Lucía Lagunes Huerta, Director of CIMAC, Mexico and Camelia Muñoz Alvarado, Journalist, Mexico

16:30 – 16:45  The critical situation for journalists in Central America: the cases of El Salvador and Guatemala, by Carlos Dada, Co-founder and Director of El Faro news website

16:45 – 17:00  Shrinking space for civil society in Central America, by Marco Pérez Navarrete, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Regional Office for Central America

17:00 – 17:15  How the European Union can support journalism and press freedom worldwide and specifically in Latin America: political and financial mechanisms in place, with Duccio Bandini, Deputy Head of Division -  Mexico, Central America and Caribbean at the European External Action Service

17:15 – 17:50  Q&A and debate

17:50 – 18:00  Closing remarks by MEP Alicia Homs Ginel (Socialists & Democrats), Member of the EP Delegation for relations with the countries of Central America

18:00 – 19:00  Reception

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For any questions, please contact Ugo Puccio: Ugo.Puccio@eu.boell.org