In a context marked by the commemoration of World Press Freedom Day, directors of international and national journalistic organizations, as well as representatives of national media associations in Latin America, are meeting in Santiago from May 2 to 4, 2024. This meeting, in follow-up to the seminar “The Development of the Media and Democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean”, held 30 years ago in this same city, gave rise to the adoption of the Santiago + 30 Declaration.
The document reaffirms the fundamental principles regarding freedom of expression and the press, based on international instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the American Convention on Human Rights, among others. It recognizes the progress made since the 1994 Santiago Declaration, but also notes persistent challenges, including violence and impunity against journalists.
The Declaration highlights the essential role of press freedom in consolidating democracy, promoting development and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. In this sense, it calls on States, intergovernmental organizations, technology companies, the media and journalism to collaborate in the protection and promotion of this fundamental human right.
Among the specific requests addressed to States are the enactment of laws that protect freedom of expression and the press, access to quality information and the protection of journalists against threats and attacks. States are also urged topoyar the sustainability of the media and independent journalism, as actors that favor the existence of a democratic regime. Regarding sustainability, the declaration calls on intergovernmental organizations to support projects for financing and sustainability economics of journalism and the media and for the creation of new media. In addition, Technology companies are urged to make their content moderation policies transparent and collaborate with the media in the fight against misinformation.
The Declaration also calls on the media and journalism to maintain their independence and promote quality, ethical and transparent journalism.
The signing of this Declaration represents the renewed commitment of journalistic organizations to press freedom and the strengthening of democratic societies in Ibero-America and the Caribbean.
Word: World News Publishers Association (WAN-IFRA), Inter-American Press Society (SIP), Committee for the Protection of Journalists (CPJ), National Association of Journalists (ANJ-Brazil), Association of Argentine Journalistic Entities (Adepa), National Press Association (ANP-Chile), Colombian Information Media Association (AMI), Information Media Association (AMI-Spain), Portuguese Printing Association (APImprensa), Mx Media Alliance (Mexico), Council of the Peruvian Press (CPP) and the Ecuadorian Association of Newspaper Publishers (Aedep).
