Ruling party presents bill to punish hate crimes with lifetime imprisonment
Nicaragua Impact | Negative Probability | High Civicus Rating | Repressed On October 22, legislators from the Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional (FSLN) introduced a constitutional reform bill to punish those who commit “hate crimes” with life imprisonment. The issue had been promoted by President Daniel Ortega since mid-September, after a notorious case of gender […]
Cortizo, first American president to sign the Salta Declaration of Freedom of Expression in the Digital Era
Panama Impact | Positive Civicus Rating | Limited On October 21, the Inter-American Press Association (IAPA) held its 76th General Assembly, with Panamanian President Laurentino Cortizo as keynote speaker. This was also the occasion chosen by the President to sign two international documents that are key to the promotion of freedom of expression: the 2018 […]
The opposition introduced a bill to reform the National Police
Colombia Impact | Positive Probability | Low Civicus Rating | Repressed On October 9, opposition lawmakers introduced a bill in the Senate to reform the National Police. The initiative comes after complaints and demonstrations in September following a series of cases of police abuse and excessive use of force. The bill seeks to “strengthen the […]
Attorney General proposes changes for law enforcement
Venezuela Impact | Negative Rating Civicus | Repressed After the publication of the report of the United Nations Independent Mission on Venezuela that accused the government of Nicolás Maduro of committing crimes against humanity, Attorney General Tarek William Saab said that “it is time for a restructuring of the Special Action Forces (FAES) and all […]
Bill to prohibit organizations from receiving funding from outside sources moves forward in the Chamber of Deputies
Mexico Impact | Negativo Probability | High Rating Civicus | Repressed On October 21, the Chamber of Deputies passed a tax reform presented by the Secretary of Finance and Public Credit, Arturo Herrera, which proposes limiting the funding of organizations and foundations authorized to receive donations deductible from income tax (ISR, in Spanish). In practical […]
Ministry of Health hides COVID-19 test information for two years
El Salvador Impact | Negative Rating Civicus | Obstructed The Ministry of Health has included on its list of reserved information the memorandums and correspondence generated by the National Laboratory of Public Health concerning the tests used for diagnosing COVID-19 in the country. The government argues that public access to this documentation would “clearly endanger […]
A new public communication tool, not subject to scrutiny
Salvador Impact | Negative Civicus Rating | Obstructed President Nayib Bukele announced on October 19 the release of Diario El Salvador. The new state-run media outlet is being touted as promising readers access to “the other side of the story” through “information provided in a truthful way”. A variety of sectors have expressed concern over […]
NODIO: an observatory created by the government to control media misinformation
Argentina Impact | Negative Civicus Rating | Limited Opposition legislators denounced the head of the Public Defender’s Office for Audiovisual Communication Services, Miriam Lewin, for abuse of authority and violation of the duties of a public official. The complaint is against NODIO, “Observatory of Disinformation and Symbolic Violence in the Media and Digital Platforms,” which […]
Bill to protect Journalists and Human Rights Defenders advances in Deputies
Mexico Impact | Positive Probability | Medium Civicus Rating | Repressed At the end of September, the Committee for the Interior and Population, presided over by the ruling party deputy Rocío Barrera, passed a bill that would strengthen the Law for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Journalists, through the application of Integral Protection […]
Ruling party Bill seeks prison sentences for those spreading ‘false news’
Nicaragua Impact | Negative Probability | High Civicus Rating | Repressed The ruling party Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional (FSLN) has presented a Special Cyber-crime Bill which seeks to punish with prison sentences of two to four years those who “publish or disseminate false, distorted information that causes alarm, anxiety and fear in the population”. […]