Dear John,
Today is World Press Freedom Day. According to Article 19, a staggering 163 journalists were killed in Mexico from 2000 - 2023, the highest number of media killings in any country outside a war zone. Impunity is rampant. Over 97% of crimes against journalists go unpunished in the country. And a report by Amnesty International and the Committee to Protect Journalists highlights that a federal mechanism to protect journalists and human rights defenders in Mexico is much needed but faces serious flaws.
Elsewhere, journalists such as José Rubén Zamora (Guatemala), Victor Ticay (Nicaragua), Carlos Julio Rojas (Venezuela), Lázaro Yuri Valle and Jorge Bello Domínguez (Cuba) remain in prison.
WOLA continues to position itself strongly in news outlets both in English and in Spanish as a platform for our advocacy. This week Carolina Jiménez Sandoval was interviewed by PBS on violence in Ecuador, Maureen Meyer was quoted in ProPublica about last year’s fire at the migrant detention center in Ciudad Juárez and Adam Isacson appeared on the front cover of the Washington Post about migration at the U.S/Mexico border.
In other news, WOLA co-hosted a discussion with congressional representatives from Brazil who investigated last year’s coup attempt instigated by Jair Bolsonaro, following President Lula de Silva’s inauguration. The group highlighted the threats posed by disinformation, among other issues.
As a former journalist with a passion for human rights, I encourage you to donate today to WOLA or to your favorite news site to ensure that we continue to shine the spotlight on the issues that matter.
As always, we thank you for your support and look forward to celebrating with many of you in style at WOLA’s 50th Anniversary Gala. Please note the event is now sold out!
All the best,