The Doha Centre for Media Freedom (DCMF) has signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Article19’s Mexico and Central America office, agreeing to cooperate in providing emergency assistance to journalists in need.
DCMF director Jan Keulen and Ricardo González, protection officer at Article19 Mexico, signed the MoU on January 23 on the sidelines of the International Conference to Protect Journalists in Dangerous Situations.
“Both parties agree to exchange information from their respective networks on relevant developments regarding press freedom and freedom of expression in Latin America,” read the MoU.
The two parties will inform each other on meetings and possible strategic cooperation with other relevant stakeholders on press freedom.
Experiences in defending press freedom should also be shared under the agreement, as well as useful information for future policy development on emergency assistance.
“We are very happy to partner with Article19 Mexico,” said Keulen. They are an effective and reliable organisation with many years of experience working in this field.
"Article19 is working all over the world. We are already working with them in the Arab-International Partnership for Libya. It’s important we have now a very concrete cooperation in Latin America and hopefully we can expand this cooperation to other countries and regions."
A line of hope at a time of despair
González said the level of protection enjoyed by journalists in Latin America, especially those who report on corruption, is deteriorating.
“It’s getting worse because the government keeps minimising the situation and that’s also an opportunity for perpetrators to keep going,” he said. “The government is also not investigating the cases, which sends an incorrect message to perpetrators and future perpetrators. They are not being persecuted or presented before a court of law.”
Article19 Mexico receives around 40 requests to assist journalists in danger every year.
“With some of them, their families are also being threatened so that could raise the figure to 60 or 80 beneficiaries a year.”
The recent MoU will, in González’s words, “formalise cooperation regarding the protection of journalists.”
Article19 in Mexico is the only organisation providing emergency protection to reporters, he explained, “but with the amount of cases, it’s really hard to deal with them all, especially because we have limited resources.
“With this agreement with the DCMF, we want to be able to multiply our efforts in order to cope with increasing violence against the press.”
The specifics
In particular, the DCMF and Article19 have agreed to cooperate in providing direct assistance to journalists in distress, starting in Mexico and Honduras, with gradual expansion to other countries in Latin America facing serious violations of journalist’ rights.
“I’m sure this relationship will build up, not only in Mexico, but (also) other places where we have a presence,” said González.
Keulen added: “Mexico and Honduras have both a dramatic record as far as press freedom violations and impunity are concerned…the lack of government control in both countries and the growing power of criminal organisations have created a very dangerous environment for journalists.
“Both countries belong to the most dangerous in the world and unfortunately there are many cases of journalists who need protection and assistance."
The partnership will also mean working together in advocacy and outreach activities.
Additional fundraising activities for distressed journalists being supported by both organistions are hoped to be boosted by the relationship.
