Paraguay acknowledges responsibility for 1991 killing of journalist Santiago Leguizamón

The Paraguayan state formally recognized its international responsibility for the 1991 murder of journalist Santiago Leguizamón, who was killed while working in Pedro Juan Caballero near the triple border. The apology and acknowledgment were delivered by Supreme Court President Alberto Martínez Simón as part of compliance with the Inter‑American Court of Human Rights ruling in the case Leguizamón Zaván and Others v. Paraguay, which ordered reparations.

Santiago Leguizamón’s son, Dante Leguizamón, called for concrete public policies to protect journalists, especially in the Amambay department, a region heavily affected by organized crime. He said, “The State must work on mechanisms that guarantee free press and that no communicator becomes a victim again.” The ceremony highlighted the need for specialized investigative protocols and protection mechanisms for media workers.

The acknowledgment marks a significant step in addressing past failures to safeguard press freedom and human‑rights obligations in Paraguay.