To Deliver the Message, Protect the Messenger

Launch of the Campaign against Impunity in Latin America

Under the slogan "To Get the Message Through We Must Protect the Messenger", onOctober 3 took place in Mexico the launching of the Campaign Against Impunity in Crimes Against Journalists, One of the most dangerous areas of the planet for the exercise of journalism.

The campaign poster and the propaganda material, which are translated into the IFJ three official languages, is also in memory of the 300 journalists murdered in Latin America during the last decade.

The campaign is in accordance with the motion approved in the Moscow World Congress, of developing a global protest strategy against impunity, and with FEPALC's action plan agreed in their II Regional Congress 2007, in Lima.

Mexico was chosen for the launching because this is an extremely dangerous country for the exercise of the profession, as testified by the journalists killed, disappeared, kidnapped, attacked and threatened during the recent times. This year nine (9) colleagues have been murdered, and two are disappeared, which again places this country at the top of fatal victims of journalism in the region, especially because of drug traffic's action. This is the highest figure since 2006, when there were 10 deaths and the same number of disappearances.

The event was attended by the Secretaries Generals of all of the Latin American Unions, as well as members of FEPALC's Steering Committee, members of IFJ Executive Committee for Latin America, the Deputy General Secretary -Francisco Audije-, the Regional Secretary General and local guests. FEPALC's action plan considers giving continuity and the higher possible visibility to the campaign throughout year 2009 with the re-launching at the end of next year.