Skip to content
  • Common Currency
  • Campaigns
    • PENWrites
    • Writers at Risk
    • Writers in Residence
    • Free speech in the UK
  • News
  • Events
  • Translation
    • PEN Translates
    • PEN Transmissions
    • International Translation Day
    • The World Bookshelf
      • Books
      • Authors
      • Translators
  • Prizes
    • PEN Pinter Prize
    • PEN Ackerley Prize
    • PEN Hessell-Tiltman Prize
  • Donate
  • Join
Home > Campaigns > Mexico: English PEN and CPJ call on President Peña Nieto to protect freedom of expression

Mexico: English PEN and CPJ call on President Peña Nieto to protect freedom of expression

In a letter sent to President Peña Nieto to coincide with a state visit during which he will meet the Queen, the Prime Minister and address both Houses of Parliament, English PEN and CPJ have called on the Mexican President to urgently address impunity and attacks against journalists in Mexico.

It is now more than five months since 43 student teachers disappeared in Guerrero. Meanwhile, the abduction and subsequent brutal murder of newspaper editor José Moisés Sánchez Cerezo in January serves as a disturbing reminder that so long as the authorities fail to prosecute the killers of journalists, they will continue to be vulnerable to violent retribution for their work.

Shocking and horrific as these crimes are, sadly none are exceptional. José Moisés Sánchez Cerezo was at least the tenth journalist to have been murdered or disappeared in Veracruz since 2010, and one of more than 50 journalists killed or disappeared in the last seven years, many in direct connection to their journalism.

The disappearance of the 43 student teachers has united the nation and led to unprecedented demonstrations on the streets, yet enforced disappearances involving both non-state and state actors are rife in Mexico, and have been for decades.

Both cases have also highlighted the major threat to freedom of expression in Mexico and to Mexicans – impunity.  Impunity in crimes against journalists in Mexico stands at around 90 percent, fuelled by corruption, collusion, or lack of resources by local and provincial authorities.  Legislation in 2013 to support the enactment of a constitutional amendment giving federal authorities jurisdiction to prosecute crimes against journalists has been underutilised, and has not yielded any convictions in journalist killings. Meanwhile, the mayor of Medellín de Bravo, Omar Cruz Reyes, who was accused by one of the crime’s accomplices of masterminding José Moisés Sánchez Cerezo’s murder, enjoys immunity as an elected official. Prosecutors are seeking the removal of his immunity from the state. The impact of Mexico’s entrenched cycle of impunity and violence against the press is undeniable. Time and again media organisations and individual journalists have declared self-censorship as their only means of safety, leaving communities without access to information and news on vital topics.

English PEN and CPJ join with Mexicans in the UK and all over the world in demanding that the government do more to protect freedom of expression in Mexico, and the human rights of all Mexicans.

The joint letter is one of a number of actions English PEN will be taking to highlight the dangers facing journalists and writers as part of our 2015 focus on Mexico.

Join our mailing list

Sign up to receive the latest English PEN news and events.

SIGN UP
  • About
  • Privacy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Partners
  • Outreach
  • Jobs
  • Contact us

With thanks to our Core Funders

©1921 - 2020

English PEN is a company limited by guarantee number 5747142 (England & Wales) and a registered charity, number 1125610.

We use cookies to help us improve your experience on our website. By closing this notification or interacting with the website you agree to our use of cookies. ACCEPT Find out more
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.