Improving journalist safety in remote areas of Central America

Central America remains among the most dangerous regions for journalists worldwide. In the last ten years more than 50 journalists were killed in Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador, and many more incidents of harassment and intimidation have been reported. These harassment, threats, killings and the ensuing cycle of impunity, (about 95% of the crimes against journalists remain unpunished) encourage self-censorship and are creating an environment filled with fear and repression. Journalists have been targeted primarily for their work investigating groups linked to organised crime, drug trafficking and political corruption. These attacks are often committed outside of the capitals, and therefore remain under-reported and under-investigated. While several bodies advocating for journalists’ safety exist, the situation remains extremely worrisome. Even in a country like Honduras - where a national protection mechanism for human rights defenders including journalists exists in theory - the implementation is far from adequate and insufficient for the high demands. Additionally, available protection mechanisms mostly cater the capital regions, leaving journalists in rural regions deprived of security resources, knowledge and tools. As the recent situation in Nicaragua shows, there is much need for support in risk analysis and protective measures for journalists who need to keep doing their job during turbulent times. As adopting a culture of safety and risk analysis takes quite a while to be appropriated by journalists and media houses, it is crucial that this programme puts in place knowledge, material and connections to stimulate preparedness for different types of risks and emergencies that journalists may encounter in their work. Therefore, Free Press Unlimited implements a three-year programme that contributes to a safer working environment for journalists in rural and/or remote areas consisting of capacity development, provision of tools and resources, as well as the promotion of a culture of solidarity and protection between journalists.