The murder of Mexican photographer Espinosa has touched a nerve
The murder of Mexican photographer Espinosa has touched a nerve
By Carlos Lauría/Americas Senior Program Coordinator
The July 31 murder of Mexican photographer Rubén Espinosa hit the press freedom community really hard. Espinosa, who was found in an apartment with four female victims--all of them shot in the head--had fled the state of Veracruz in June and sought refuge in Mexico City, where he thought he would be safe from threats and intimidation.
What happened next is symptomatic of the profound freedom of expression crisis that Mexico is facing: Espinosa decided that it was not worth seeking help from the federal mechanism that provides protection to journalists under threat. As a result of the deep lack of trust between journalists and authorities, Espinosa chose to simply ignore the federal government's protection program.
The situation has its origin in the almost complete record of impunity in Mexico. Ninety percent of journalist killings in Mexico go unresolved, according to CPJ research, a dismal record that merely aggravates the crisis and leaves journalists wide open to attacks.
The multiple homicide made headlines around the world and touched a nerve among journalists and advocates. A letter written by Latin American journalists--including Alma Guillermoprieto, Guillermo Osorno, and Carlos Dada, and signed by more than 500 writers, artists, and journalists from around the world--called on Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto to put an end to the unprecedented cycle of violence and to fully investigate crimes against journalists. The letter, written with support from CPJ and PEN America, was also signed by CPJ's executive director, Joel Simon, and many of CPJ's board members.
More:
https://cpj.org/blog/2015/08/the-murder-of-mexican-photographer-espinosa-has-to.php
