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.

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 democratic governance, as recognized in the Inter-American 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) Jos Luis Gamboa Arenas on January 10; (2) Alfonso Margarito Martnez Esquivel on January 17; (3) Maria Guadalupe Lourdes Maldonado Lpez on January 23; (4) Roberto Toledo Barrera on January 31; (5) Heber Lpez Vsquez on February 10; (6) Jorge Luis Camero Zazueta on February 24; (7) Juan Carlos Muiz on March 4; (8) Armando Linares Lpez on March 15; (9) Luis Enrique Ramrez on May 5; (10) Yessenia Mollinedo Falconi on May 9; (11) Sheila Johana Garca 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, Andrs Manuel Lpez 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 (1) insufficient financial and human resources; (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 Lpez 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 Lpez 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 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 demonstrated a willingness to assist the Government of Mexico in strengthening human rights protections and freedom of the press: Now, therefore, be it That the Senate (1) expresses unwavering commitment to and support for strengthening deterrent, protective, and accountability measures to prevent violence against journalists and safeguard the freedom of the press in Mexico; (2) condemns consistently high levels of violence against journalists in Mexico, including recent and ongoing spikes in extrajudicial killings and high levels of impunity for such violence; (3) encourages the Government of Mexico (A) to strengthen efforts to protect the free press and journalists, including by (i) committing sufficient resources to address threats to the free press and journalists; and (ii) tailoring protection measures to account for the specific challenges of conducting journalistic work; (B) to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation into all threats of violence reported by journalists and the provision of immediate access to protective measures for journalists who make such reports; (C) to refrain from actions and statements that create a more hostile environment for the free press and journalists; (D) to pursue public awareness campaigns to recognize and elevate journalistic work and the freedom of the press; (E) to pursue effective measures, in close coordination with local and State entities and civil society organizations, to strengthen deterrent, protective, and accountability measures to address violence against journalists; and (F) to conduct comprehensive and transparent investigations into the deaths of journalists to ensure all responsible parties are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law; (4) encourages further efforts by the Government of Mexico (A) to address deficiencies within the Federal Mechanism for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Journalists (referred to in this resolution as the Federal Protection Mechanism (B) to bolster the capability of the Federal Protection Mechanism to achieve its stated purpose; and (C) to develop additional measures that incorporate relevant recommendations by civil society groups, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to safeguard journalists and the free press; (5) supports efforts by civil society groups, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (A) to monitor violence against journalists and media workers in Mexico; (B) to provide technical assistance and other support to the Government of Mexico to address concerns about such violence; and (C) to disseminate accurate information on the state of freedom of the press in Mexico; and (6) calls on the Department of State and United States Agency for International Development to prioritize the protection of the media and efforts to prevent, investigate, and prosecute cases of violence against journalists in diplomatic engagement with, and foreign assistance to, Mexico.

Summary: This resolution expresses unwavering commitment to and support for strengthening deterrent, protective, and accountability measures to prevent violence against journalists and safeguard the freedom of the press in Mexico. The resolution also encourages the Mexican government to strengthen efforts to protect the free press and journalists; ensure a thorough and impartial investigation into all threats of violence reported by journalists and the provision of immediate access to protective measures for journalists who make such reports; and conduct comprehensive and transparent investigations into the deaths of journalists to ensure all responsible parties are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.