
On March 13, 2012 the Mexican Senate voted to amend Article 73 of the Constitution to federalize crimes committed against journalists. The amendment has to be ratified by a majority of Mexico’s 32 states before it becomes law. Nevertheless, the Senate vote is a significant step towards curbing impunity.
The President of PEN International, John Ralston Saul, said:“This amendment was the focus of our recent delegation to Mexico City, and in particular of our conversation with the President of the Senate and other Senators. Its passage is a very important step in the reforming of Mexican law to make it serve the freedom of expression of Mexican writers and Mexican citizens as a whole.”
This reform was one of the main recommendations in Corruption, Impunity, Silence: The War on Mexico’s Journalists – a report published last June by PEN Canada and the International Human Rights Program at the University of Toronto. The report is available in English and Spanish.
READ MORE:
Read PEN International’s statement on the Senate vote.
Read the Committee to Protect Journalists’ report on the Mexican Senate’s landmark new amendment.
Read “Attacks on Journalists in Mexico: Why Federalization of these Crimes Matters” by PEN International researcher Cathal Sheerin.