Strengthening regional cooperation to end impunity for crimes and attacks against journalists in Latin America
Online Programme
8:00 to 9:00 |
RegistrationRegistration of participants |
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9:00 to 9:30 |
Opening statementsWelcome and key note remarks |
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9:30 to 11:00 |
Session 1: Killing the witnesses: the industry of silence against journalistsThis session will provide an overview of the situation in the region of Latin America and at the international level regarding crimes and attacks against journalists and the issue of impunity. It will highlight the role of journalists to denounce corruption, trafficking and political wrongdoings in societies and strive to understand what journalist killings represent and the consequences it entails. As journalists are tasked with the special duty to inform the population and international opinion, this role often makes them a target. The session will also analyze the various threats faced by journalists working in the region today compared to the threats faced by them in the past, the changes in safety created by the development of social media, the ways to mitigate risks on the field and the possible measures to tackle and end impunity for attacks and killings of journalists in the region. Moderator: Adriana Leon. Vice-coordinator, Latin American Congress of Investigative Journalism (COLPIN)
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11:00 to 11:15 |
Coffee breakCoffee break |
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11:15 to 12:45 |
Session 2: Mechanisms of Prevention, Protection and Prosecution: experiences from the Inter-American SystemThis third session will analyze mechanisms of prevention, protection and prosecution to deliver justice for killed journalists. Measures to address this issue include documenting and remembering violations and crimes in order to allow resolutions in the future, the role of regional courts and human rights mechanisms, NGOs and fostering the engagement of National Human Rights Commissions. This session will be coordinated by the Office of the Special Rapporteur of Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights. Moderator: Aimée Vega. General Coordinator, Global Alliance on Media and Gender (GAMAG)
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12:45 to 14:15 |
LunchLunch break |
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14:15 to 15:45 |
Session 3: Fighting impunity in Mexico: review of challenges and achievementsImpunity towards crimes against journalists is considered one of the main factors fueling the cycle of violent crime against the exercise of freedom of expression and human rights. This session will provide an overview of the challenges and achievements in fighting impunity in the context of Mexico, where the difficulty to penalize criminals remains a serious issue. It will seek to answer questions such as: What is the status of investigations on the killings of journalists? What are the bottlenecks that prevent prosecution in cases of attacks against journalists? What could be the role of CSO and media to advocate for the judicial resolution of these killings? The advantages and challenges of national protection and monitoring mechanisms, which are in place or could be established to fight impunity, will be presented and discussed. Moderator: Carmen Aristegui. Mexican journalist and anchorwoman, anchor of the news program Aristegui on CNN en Español. Received several awards in recognition of her struggle for freedom of expression.
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15:45 to 16:00 |
Coffee breakCoffee break |
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16:00 to 17:30 |
Session 4: The way forward, including raising awareness, monitoring and reinforcing capacities of key actors: Recap and closing remarksThe final session will offer a forward-looking approach to identify ways to strengthen the capacities of judicial members, law enforcement officers and human rights defenders and to raise awareness on the importance to protect journalists and fight impunity. Discussions will include reinforcing the implementation of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists at all levels and with different stakeholders. Furthermore, the various options to raise awareness through media and social media campaign and partnerships will be discussed. Regional multi-stakeholder forum for discussions and exchange of ideas and advocacy will also be promoted in order to address the issue of impunity at the regional level. Moderator: Emmanuel Colombié. Regional Director for Latin America, Reporters without Borders
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17:30 to 18:30 |
Opening of the Latin American Conference on Investigative JournalismThe Latin American Conference on Investigative Journalism (COLPIN), will bring together more than 300 reporters from Latin America and the Caribbean. The event will take place Nov. 7 to 10 in Mexico City. |
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18:30 to 19:30 |
CocktailCocktail |