Violence against human rights defenders, defenders of the environment and indigenous peoples and communities, in addition to defenders of women’s rights, which have been increasing at a vertiginous rate, is also pointed out.
After a call made by the European Parliament itself last Thursday, March 9, in which it was demanded to guarantee the protection of journalists in Mexico, today a resolution has been issued that accuses and points to the country as the most dangerous and deadly place to practice journalism in a war-free zone.
This document with folio 2022/2580 (RSP), and which can be freely read on the Parliament’s own transparency site, was approved with 607 votes in favor, 2 against and 73 abstentions, where it is condemned how historically they have been go unpunished a series of crimes against freedom of expression, journalists and human rights defenders, perpetrated by the same federal authorities.
“Whereas 2022 marks the start of the deadliest year for journalists in Mexico, with at least six journalists killed (…) That journalists have to endure poor working conditions and many lack access to health and mental care services; that the situation has deteriorated since the last presidential elections in July 2018, and that at least 47 journalists have been killed since then,” reads one of the excerpts in the document.
Violence against human rights defenders, environmental defenders and indigenous peoples and communities, as well as defenders of women’s rights, has also been on the rise.
“Call on the authorities, and in particular the highest authorities, to refrain from publishing any communication that could stigmatize human rights defenders, journalists and media workers, exacerbate the atmosphere against them or distort their lines of investigation; asks said authorities to publicly highlight the fundamental role that human rights defenders and journalists play in democratic societies,” the statement continued.
The document was sent directly to the Commission, to the Vice President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, to the Member States, to the pro tempore presidency of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, to the Secretary-General of the Organization of American States, the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly and the President, Government and Congress of Mexico.
The original file can be consulted at the following link
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/RC-9-2022-0153_EN.html
