U.S. Ambassador Jacobson hears concerns from Mexican press freedom advocates

The U.S. Embassy in Mexico City issued the following news release on Sept. 20, 2016.

U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Roberta Jacobson conducted a roundtable at her residence  with journalists and freedom of speech activists from Veracruz, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, and Mexico City to learn more about the challenges facing journalists in Mexico. Civil society organizations represented at the meeting included Article XIX, Periodistas de a Pie, CENCOS, and the Committee to Protect Journalists, and Freedom House. ‎

Ambassador Jacobson told the group, “A free and vibrant press is a key element of any strong democratic society.  The work that civil society groups are doing to promote freedom of the press in Mexico, to advocate for better protections of all those working in the media, and to seek justice in cases of threats and violence against journalists, is of the utmost importance.”

The guests said journalists are often targeted because of their work, and that far too many journalists are killed in Mexico for trying to expose the activities of criminal organizations. Guests said more effective protection measures for journalists are needed as well as investigation and prosecution of those behind the attacks on journalists.

The roundtable was followed by a panel discussion at the Benjamin Franklin Library, with other guests that included diplomats from several other foreign missions, members of civil society and other journalists.

BACKGROUND:

The United States government works with Mexico to support journalism and freedom of expression through various activities, including:

• Facilitating cross-border partnerships, training and exchanges among U.S. and Mexican journalists.

• Supporting ARTICLE 19, a human rights organization focused on journalists and press freedom.

• Providing technical assistance to SEGOB’s Mechanism to Protect Journalists and Human Rights Defenders.

Source: U.S. Embassy, Mexico City

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