The US State Department once again alerted that various politicians in Mexico, including the president, discredit journalists for their work.
The United States pointed out this Monday in its annual report on human rights to the president of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, for “discrediting” journalists and organizations of civil society in their daily press conferences.
The document, prepared by the Department of State and related to 2022, once again expresses concern about the high levels of impunity in Mexico and the violence perpetrated by organized crime.
On the situation of press freedom in the country, states that 15 journalists were murdered last year and that 11 of these crimes were related to their work.
The United States considers that “the high levels of impunity” in these crimes generate “self-censorship and reduce freedom of expression and of the press.”
“Journalists can criticize the government and discuss matters of general interest without restrictions,” the report also states, but adds that “politicians, including President López Obrador, publicly discredited them to present them as partial, partisan and corrupt.
Regarding human rights defenders, the document also highlights that “President López Obrador rebuked civil society groups in his morning press conferences.”
The report highlights that organized crime perpetrates violent crimes in Mexico such as homicides, torture, kidnappings, extortion and human trafficking.
“The government investigated and prosecuted some of these crimes, but most remain uninvestigated,” says the State Department.
It also highlights the collusion of criminals and authorities in some crimes that “often go unpunished.”
The report includes reports of attacks against migrants and asylum seekers by organized crime, police, and migration agents in border areas and at airports.
The Government of Joe Biden highlights that Mexico carried out efforts to “combat organizations that traffic people, but they have given limited results.”
This State Department report serves as a guide for the United States Congress to determine the foreign aid granted to each nation.
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