U.S. Ambassador Anthony Wayne Meets with PEN International Delegation and Renews Commitment to Journalists

U.S. Ambassador Anthony Wayne Meets with PEN International Delegation and Renews Commitment to Journalists

Mexico City, January 27, 2012 – U.S. Ambassador Anthony Wayne met today with a visiting delegation headed by PEN International president John Ralston Saul.  Ambassador Wayne used the meeting to outline Embassy efforts to support Mexican government and civil society initiatives to protect reporters.  Mr. Saul and his colleagues explained their efforts to encourage and support journalists in Mexico.  The Ambassador and the PEN delegation had a very rich and productive discussion on this important set of issues.

Ambassador Wayne said, “We firmly believe that journalists play a vital role in keeping the citizenry well-informed, and we are very concerned that organized crime is trying to silence the media.  For some time now, the Embassy has been working with Mexican NGOs and media organizations to enhance the security of journalists working in violent situations by providing speakers and training on the basics of protection.  And now, the Embassy is working with the Mexican government and civil society to protect journalists and human rights defenders in Mexico.”

The ambassador explained that this will entail $5,000,000 over four years and provide support for Mexican efforts to strengthen their capacity to protect journalists, including the Secretariat of Government’s journalist protection mechanism and other government of Mexico initiatives to prevent abuses and protect human rights defenders.  In addition, he noted that the Embassy is partnering with NGOs on a $100,000 online training program for investigative journalists from throughout Mexico, to develop skills in digital reporting, traditional reporting, ethics, and journalist safety.  And he noted that the Embassy is supporting civil society’s capacity to monitor efforts by the Government of Mexico to provide tools and emergency support to protect at-risk journalists.” 

To support and complement Mexican government initiatives, the Embassy’s implementing partner, Freedom House, works with both government and civil society to strengthen both protection and prevention efforts, putting into place the long-term mechanisms to ensure that journalists can perform their functions without risking their lives.  Specifically, Freedom House will work with prominent Mexican human rights organizations and provide technical assistance to the Mexican government to strengthen mechanisms to protect reporters.