UN condemns Mexico over tortured reporter case and calls for action to keep journalists safe

Ruling was the council’s first against Mexico, which has become one of the most dangerous countries for media workers

David Agren in Mexico City
@el_reportero
Fri 3 Aug 2018 13.40 EDT
First published on Fri 3 Aug 2018 12.20 EDT

The UN human rights council has rebuked Mexico for failing to protect its journalists in a ruling on the case of a prominent reporter who was kidnapped and threatened with rape by police acting at the behest of a powerful politician and one of his business backers.

The ruling was the council’s first against Mexico, which has become one of the most murderous countries in the world for media workers.

The resolution found journalist Lydia Cacho was arbitrarily detained, subjected to torture and gender violence and had her right to free expression violated.

The resolution also ordered reparations be made and called for the abolition of laws in eight states criminalizing calumny and defamation – which have been used to persecute journalists and whistleblowers – be scrapped.

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/03/un-mexico-failing-to-protect-journalists-reporter-kidnapped