2008 SPECIAL RAPPORTEURSHIP FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES 1889 F St. N.W. WASHINGTON, D. C. 20006 www.cidh.oas.org/relatoria/
[email protected] Design: Atico Publicidad www.aticopub.com OAS Cataloging-in-Publication Data Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Estudio especial sobre la situación de las investigaciones respecto a los periodistas asesinados en la región durante el período 1995-2005 / [por la Relatoría Especial para la Libertad de Expresión]. p. ; cm. (OEA Documentos Oficiales; OEA Ser.L) (OAS Official Records Series; OEA Ser.L) ISBN 978-0-8270-5196-6 1. Freedom of the press. 2. Freedom of expression. 3. Freedom of information. I. Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression. II. Title. III. Series. OEA/Ser.L/V/II.131 Approved by the Commission during its 131° regular session index Foreword 9 Introduction 11 Chapter I 19 States’ Obligation to Investigate Human Rights Violations and Combat Impunity A. The Duty to Investigate: A Positive Obligation of the States under the Inter-American System for the Protection of Human Rights 21 B. Principles of Seriousness and Effectiveness and the Standard of Due Diligence 24 C. The Obligation to Investigate Violations of the Right to Life 29 D. The Duty to Investigate the Violation of the Right to Life of Journalists and Members of the Media as a Guarantee of Freedom of Expression 34 E. Noncompliance with the Duty to Investigate and the Question of Impunity. Implications of Impunity 36 Chapter II 39 Status of Investigations into the Murder of Journalists in the Region for Reasons that May Be Related to their Work in Journalism (1995-2005 Period) A.