Journalists at risk in Central America and Mexico

To join the conference on 25 October please click here.

Venue: Sounds Resist, Rue de la Tulipe 28, 1050 Brussels

With simultaneous interpretation in English and Spanish

In recent years, we have witnessed a further deterioration of the situation that journalists in Mexico and Central America are suffering. The region has experienced a restriction of civic and democratic space that has manifested itself not only in attacks on press freedom through restrictive laws, but also in an increase in violence. So far, in 2022 alone, Mexico has registered 13 murders of journalists, thus making it the most dangerous country in the world for the exercise of this profession.

The murder of journalists in Mexico; the curtailing of press freedom in Nicaragua through a law targeting foreign agents; the abuse of state of emergency powers in El Salvador in violation of the principles of legality and due process; the detention of journalists such as the director of El Periódico in Guatemala… These are just a few examples of the much deeper and alarming trend that the region is facing. The shrinking of spaces for civil society in Mexico and Central America is a terrible reality, especially for those committed to democracy, justice, accountability and transparency.

As stated by Salvadoran journalist Carlos Dada, “Now, after a mere three decades of democratic life, authoritarianism is back in Central America and with it, attacks on the press. [...] Silence is not an option. Our word is our power, our contribution to our communities, and our fate. And we must use our word to break the monologues of power.” Join the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung and the EU-LAT Network in this panel discussion on 24 October.

Programme

Moderation by Marco Pérez Navarrete, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung San Salvador Regional Office for Central America

Interventions by:

• Lucía Lagunes Huerta, Director of CIMAC, Mexico
• Camelia Muñoz Alvarado, Journalist, Mexico
• Carlos Dada, Co-founder and Director of El Faro news website, El Salvador
• Julia Gavarrete, Journalist, El Salvador
• Mirra Banchon, Journalist, Belgium

Reception

***

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