Mexico City.- Ambassador of the United States in Mexico, Roberta Jacobson, led a panel discussion at his residence with journalists and activists defending freedom of expression from the states of Veracruz, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas and Mexico City to learn about the challenges facing journalists in the country. Civil society organizations represented at the meeting included Article 19, Periodistas de a Pie, the National Center for Social Communication (CENCOS), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Freedom House.
Addressing the group, the Ambassador Jacobson said: «A free and vibrant press is a key element of any democratic society strong. It is paramount the work being done by groups of civil society to promote press freedom in Mexico, to encourage to be better mechanisms of protection for those working in the media and to seek justice in cases of threats or violence against journalists «.
The guests indicated that journalists are often targeted because of their work, and that too many journalists are killed in Mexico while trying to expose the activities of criminal organizations. They added that more effective measures are needed to protect journalists, as well as investigate and bring to justice those behind the attacks against them.
After the roundtable an exchange of views on the Benjamin Franklin Library, where other guests included diplomats from other nations, members of civil society and other journalists participated took place.
The government of the United States is working with Mexico to support journalism and freedom of expression through various activities including:
- Facilitate partnerships, training and cross – border exchanges between journalists from Mexico and the United States.
- Support Article 19, a human rights organization focused on journalists and press freedom.
- Provide technical support to the Mechanism to Protect Journalists and Human Rights Defenders of the Interior Ministry.
