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 Travel Writers' Resources | April 2007 
Mexico Reforms Journalist Related Criminal Code
 Presidency of the Republic
Mexican President Felipe Calderón began his speech with a quote published in Monitor Republicano a century and a half ago, “Let them take all the other freedoms away, provided they leave freedom of the press, because that will soon enable us to recover all the others.” These words, he said, served as a reminder that freedom of expression is one of Mexico’s historical achievements and that a free press is essential to the consolidation of the democracy it is striving to achieve.
The signing of this decree removes the crimes of slander and libel from the Penal Code. This does not mean, however, that journalism is synonymous with impunity, since people's privacy, honor and reputation will and must be guaranteed through civil and economic sanctions, rather than imprisonment.
The president went on to say that a number of challenges have yet to be met, since one of the greatest threats journalists still face is intimidation and violence. He added that, “Today, I would like to repeat the fact that I have a personal commitment to the media's work, I believe in freedom and responsibility, and the government I lead is not only committed to respecting the freedom of the press but also to defending the free [and] safe performance of their profession; this is a priority."
He said that no effort would be spared in clearing crimes committed against journalists, a national challenge that requires the joint actions of the three branches of government, the different political parties, society and the media. The president then mentioned his government's efforts to combat crime, in order to guarantee coming generations a better future. Criminals, he explained, could use fear and anxiety to paralyze society, which is why the media provides a valuable service by using their work to promote national unity regarding this serious problem.
Presidency of the Republic translation |
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