(Prensa.com) The president of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR), Diego Garcia Sayan, in Panama today reiterated the need for states to ensure effective access to public information for the entire population.
The Court has established case law on Freedom of Expression on several occasions, “emphasizing that it is a right that concerns not only journalists, but the entire population,” Garcia said at a press conference to announce the special session 43 of that body, held in Panama.
He recalled that it is laid down in Article 13 of the American Convention on Human Rights and clarified that its effect goes hand in hand “weighting” of other safeguards as the right to privacy.
Garcia explained that the Commission has gone further to the right comes into effect, calling on states that accept its jurisdiction that are set up procedures and deadlines for an inquiry to be answered.
He said the Commission has tried in recent years “many cases” of violations of freedom of expression “that are well documented, and its decisions are public” from Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Paraguay and Peru.
The consultation made the magistrate is given on the eve of the Panamanian newspaper unions and civil society organizations meet to discuss the call for a national dialogue on freedom of expression made by the government of Panama, amid allegations of harassment, persecution and threats against journalists critical Panamanians.
The government has not specified a date for beginning this dialogue, while the archbishop, José Domingo Ulloa, accepted the official invitation to mediate the conversation.