Mexico and Peru debate press protections and criminal justice reforms

In Mexico, PAN deputy Jorge Soto has warned that proposed regulations regarding audience rights could serve as tools for political pressure against journalists and media outlets. Soto cautioned that such mechanisms risk reviving authoritarian practices reminiscent of the 1970s PRI era, where the government controlled public discourse. He emphasized that the discussion on audience rights is occurring amidst significant ongoing violence against journalists.

In Campeche, the state legislature is set to analyze a proposal to establish a protection mechanism for journalists and human rights defenders. The initiative, confirmed by legal counsel Adrián Serrano Barrientos, includes the creation of an inter-institutional committee to evaluate threats and implement preventive measures. The plan seeks to include journalists in a consultative council to ensure protection decisions are not solely handled by authorities.

In Peru, the Consenso por la Democracia alliance is seeking the repeal of several laws they characterize as pro-crime. The alliance, including Juntos por el Perú and Ahora Nación, has proposed five legislative projects to overturn laws that they claim restrict criminal investigations, limit the ability to recover illicit assets, and grant impunity to certain officials, including military and police personnel.