III 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 702 

Condemning violence against journalists in Mexico and expressing support 

for strengthening deterrent, protective, and accountability measures to 

prevent violence against journalists and safeguard the freedom of the 

press in Mexico. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 12, 2022 

Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. KAINE, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. BENNET, Mr. 

WYDEN, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. MERKLEY, Mr. PADILLA, Mr. HICKENLOOPER, 

and Ms. KLOBUCHAR) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Condemning violence against journalists in Mexico and expressing support for strengthening deterrent, protective, 

and accountability measures to prevent violence against 

journalists and safeguard the freedom of the press in 

Mexico. 

Whereas the United States and Mexico share extensive economic, security, cultural, and democratic ties, especially 

a mutual commitment to respecting and promoting universally recognized human rights, democratic values, and 

the rule of law; 

Whereas freedom of the press is an essential component of 

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ican Democratic Charter, done at Lima September 11, 

2001, and journalists should have the right to report the 

news objectively, in safety, without retribution or threats 

thereof; 

Whereas attacks against journalists and other media workers 

is a significant concern for freedom of the press and 

human rights in Mexico, especially among journalists and 

other media workers who report on public corruption and 

illicit activities and are frequently subject to threats, coercion, intimidation, surveillance, forcible relocation, violence, and even death; 

Whereas, according to Reporters Without Borders, more than 

150 journalists have been killed in Mexico since 2000; 

Whereas, according to Reporters Without Borders, Mexico 

was the most dangerous country in the world outside a 

war zone for journalists for the third consecutive year in 

2021 and ranked 127 out of 180 countries in the World 

Press Freedom Index in 2022; 

Whereas, as of 2022, the Committee to Protect Journalists 

has documented 15 cases of missing reporters in Mexico, 

the highest number of any country in the world; 

Whereas, in 2022, at least 12 extrajudicial killings of journalists have occurred in Mexico, including the killings of— 

(1) Jose ́ Luis Gamboa Arenas on January 10; 

(2) Alfonso Margarito Martı ́nez Esquivel on January 

17; 

(3) Maria Guadalupe Lourdes Maldonado Lo ́pez on 

January 23; 

(4) Roberto Toledo Barrera on January 31; 

(5) Heber Lo ́pez Va ́squez on February 10; 

(6) Jorge Luis Camero Zazueta on February 24; 


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(7) Juan Carlos Mun ̃iz on March 4; 

(8) Armando Linares Lo ́pez on March 15; 

(9) Luis Enrique Ramı ́rez on May 5; 

(10) Yessenia Mollinedo Falconi on May 9; 

(11) Sheila Johana Garcı ́a Olivera on May 9; and 

(12) Antonio de la Cruz on June 29; 

Whereas at least 9 of the 12 journalists murdered in Mexico 

in 2022 were killed in direct connection with their work, 

according to Reporters Without Borders; 

Whereas the President of Mexico, Andre ́s Manuel Lo ́pez 

Obrador, has sometimes demonstrated hostility towards 

the free press and enabled an unsafe working environment for independent journalists by regularly, publicly 

disparaging and intimidating journalists who are critical 

of the policies of or investigate corruption related to associates of his administration; 

Whereas perpetrators of violence against journalists in Mexico are rarely held to account, with Mexico ranking 

among the countries with the most unsolved murders of 

journalists per capita and more than 95 percent of crimes 

against journalists in the country going unpunished, according to the International Federation of Journalists; 

Whereas initiatives taken thus far by the Government of 

Mexico to address violence against journalists, namely the 

creation of the Federal Mechanism for the Protection of 

Human Rights Defenders and Journalists (referred to in 

this preamble as the ‘‘Federal Protection Mechanism’’) in 

2012, have not achieved stated goals and have been 

marred by significant implementation issues, according to 

a March 2019 report by the Washington Office on Latin 

America, including— 

(1) insufficient financial and human resources; 


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(2) inadequate risk analysis and protection protocols; 

(3) limited transparency and oversight; and 

(4) limited coordination between local, State, and 

national entities; 

Whereas the decision by President Lo ́pez Obrador to eliminate independent funding for the Federal Protection 

Mechanism in October 2020 has the potential to further 

exacerbate the resource constraints of the Federal Protection Mechanism and undermine the ability of the Federal Protection Mechanism to protect at-risk journalists 

and other human rights defenders; 

Whereas, as a result of a failure to rectify recognized issues 

with the Federal Protection Mechanism, at least 9 journalists have been killed while receiving protection in Mexico, with the majority of such journalists killed during the 

tenure of President Lo ́pez Obrador, according to Human 

Rights Watch; 

Whereas the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights 

and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human 

Rights in Mexico have expressed concerns about violence 

against journalists in Mexico, asserting that ‘‘impunity in 

attacks against journalists fosters further violence 

against reporters and may inhibit the exercise of freedom 

of expression’’, and offered recommendations to address 

such concerns; 

Whereas, on March 10, 2022, the European Parliament 

passed a resolution on the situation of journalists and 

human rights defenders in Mexico; and 

Whereas the United States Government has expressed concern about violence against journalists in Mexico and 


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demonstrated a willingness to assist the Government of 

Mexico in strengthening human rights protections and 

freedom of the press: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) expresses unwavering commitment to and 

3 support for strengthening deterrent, protective, and 

4 accountability measures to prevent violence against 

5 journalists and safeguard the freedom of the press 

6 in Mexico; 

7 (2) condemns consistently high levels of violence 

8 against journalists in Mexico, including recent and 

9 ongoing spikes in extrajudicial killings and high lev10 els of impunity for such violence; 

11 (3) encourages the Government of Mexico— 

12 (A) to strengthen efforts to protect the 

13 free press and journalists, including by— 

14 (i) committing sufficient resources to 

15 address threats to the free press and jour16 nalists; and 

17 (ii) tailoring protection measures to 

18 account for the specific challenges of con19 ducting journalistic work; 

20 (B) to ensure a thorough and impartial in21 vestigation into all threats of violence reported 

22 by journalists and the provision of immediate 


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1 access to protective measures for journalists 

2 who make such reports; 

3 (C) to refrain from actions and statements 

4 that create a more hostile environment for the 

5 free press and journalists; 

6 (D) to pursue public awareness campaigns 

7 to recognize and elevate journalistic work and 

8 the freedom of the press; 

9 (E) to pursue effective measures, in close 

10 coordination with local and State entities and 

11 civil society organizations, to strengthen deter12 rent, protective, and accountability measures to 

13 address violence against journalists; and 

14 (F) to conduct comprehensive and trans15 parent investigations into the deaths of journal16 ists to ensure all responsible parties are pros17 ecuted to the fullest extent of the law; 

18 (4) encourages further efforts by the Govern19 ment of Mexico— 

20 (A) to address deficiencies within the Fed21 eral Mechanism for the Protection of Human 

22 Rights Defenders and Journalists (referred to 

23 in this resolution as the ‘‘Federal Protection 

24 Mechanism’’); 


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1 (B) to bolster the capability of the Federal 

2 Protection Mechanism to achieve its stated pur3 pose; and 

4 (C) to develop additional measures that in5 corporate relevant recommendations by civil so6 ciety groups, the United Nations Office of the 

7 High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the 

8 Inter-American Commission on Human Rights 

9 to safeguard journalists and the free press; 

10 (5) supports efforts by civil society groups, the 

11 United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for 

12 Human Rights, and the Inter-American Commission 

13 on Human Rights— 

14 (A) to monitor violence against journalists 

15 and media workers in Mexico; 

16 (B) to provide technical assistance and 

17 other support to the Government of Mexico to 

18 address concerns about such violence; and 

19 (C) to disseminate accurate information on 

20 the state of freedom of the press in Mexico; and 

21 (6) calls on the Department of State and 

22 United States Agency for International Development 

23 to prioritize the protection of the media and efforts 

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1 lence against journalists in diplomatic engagement 

2 with, and foreign assistance to, Mexico. 

Æ 


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