Violence down against Colombian journalists but problems persist, group reiterates

Colombia’s “climate of violence” against journalists has calmed, but inadequate public information laws and other concerns remain serious, reported the Inter-American Press Society Monday at the conclusion of its sixth General Assembly.

In Latin America as a whole, freedom of the press is threatened foremost by violence, poor government-press relations, use of public funds to pressure journalists and poor information access laws, the body said, according to Spanish news agency EFE.

The gathering noted the killings of a total of eight journalists in Boliva, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico and Venezuela.

After a presentation on Colombia a few days ago, the gathering noted that while death threats were gone, legal actions against journalists were on the rise, especially in light of the recent friction between the executive and judicial branches in the country.

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