liberty central's civil liberties hero of the week: Mexico's Chamber of Deputies
Three cheers for Mexico's Chamber of Deputies, who have overwhelmingly voted to protect journalists by adding crimes against the press to the federal statute.
Mexico's National Human Rights Commission estimates that 45 journalists have been killed in the country since 2000. It's a situation Carlos Lauría from the Committee to Protect Journalists describes as "undermining the fundamental right of Mexicans to express themselves freely".
A television, radio and print awareness campaign by press freedom campaigners in 2008 galvanised public support, and the Mexican lower house recently voted 263-0 to add crimes against "journalistic activity" to the federal penal code. This gives an additional penalty of up to five years in prison for anyone who "impedes, interferes, limits or attacks against journalistic activity".
The measure is now before the Senate.
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