Mexico Elections 2021: Journalist Safety Kit
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Mexico elections 2021: Journalist safety kit Mexico will hold the largest elections in its history on June 6, 2021. Candidates will run for, among other offices, the federal Chamber of Deputies, governorships in 15 states, and mayor in hundreds of municipalities. Journalists and media workers covering the elections anywhere in Mexico should be aware of a number of risks, including physical attacks, harassment, intimidation, online bullying, surveillance, and government restrictions on reporting. In 2020, at least five journalists were killed in Mexico in direct relation to their work, according to CPJ research. Supporters attend a rally on the one-year anniversary of Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador's election, in the Zocalo, Mexico City's main square, on July 1, 2019. In June 2021, Mexicans will vote in federal, state, and local elections. (AP/Rebecca Blackwell) Criminal violence during the elections is of particular concern. During recent election cycles, most notably in 2018, dozens of political candidates were murdered, according to reports. In many cases, organized criminal groups are suspected of being involved in the violence. “I think we’re never really sufficiently prepared,” Isaín Mandujano, correspondent of Proceso magazine in the southern state of Chiapas, told CPJ via phone. “Media often don’t train their reporters sufficiently, they’re not worried enough about their people’s safety, so we have to analyze where there may be possible violence ourselves.” 1 Others, such as editor-in-chief Adrián López of newspaper El Noroeste in the northern state of Sinaloa, are worried about digital threats. “I think we still need to prepare ourselves a lot better for online aggressions,” he told CPJ via phone. “Media are often attacked via social media, by disinformation campaigns, hacking and DDoS attacks.” CPJ Emergencies has compiled a safety kit for journalists covering the elections. The kit contains information for editors, reporters, and photojournalists on how to prepare for the elections, and how to mitigate physical and digital risk. PDFs of the election safety kit are available to download in English and Spanish. Contacts & resources Journalists requiring assistance in Mexico can contact CPJ’s Emergencies program via [email protected] or CPJ’s Mexico representative, Jan-Albert Hootsen, at [email protected]. In addition, CPJ’s resource center has additional information and tools for pre-assignment preparation and post-incident assistance. 2 CONTENTS Physical safety: Reporting from political rallies and crowd events 4 Physical safety: Surveillance and working in areas of high crime 6 Physical safety: Reporting from election protests and disorder 11 Physical safety: Reporting in a hostile community 15 Physical safety: COVID-19 considerations 16 Physical safety: Editor’s safety checklist 18 Digital safety: General best practices 19 Digital safety: Preparing your devices for political rallies 21 Digital safety: Online abuse and misinformation campaigns 22 3 Then presidential candidate Ricardo Anaya, of the left-right Forward for Mexico Coalition, holds a campaign rally in Leon, Mexico, on June 27, 2018. (AP/Anthony Vazquez) Physical Safety: Reporting from political rallies and crowd events Tensions between political parties, candidates, their supporters and criminal gangs may affect journalists covering the election cycle across Mexico. Since September 2020, at least 66 political candidates have been assassinated, according to the AFP. This is in addition to over 150 political candidates who were murdered in the 2018 election cycle, in what analysts describe as a mix of political conflict and organized crime attempting to insert itself into the electoral process. When attending political rallies, crowd events, and/or protests, media workers should be aware of the potential risk of getting caught up in assassination attempts of political candidates, as well as violence from opposition supporters and/or criminals who may clash at campaign rallies. To help minimize the risks at such events, media workers should consider the following safety advice: Positioning & situational awareness ● Regularly assess your position in relation to political candidates at public crowd events, noting that the closer you are, the greater the potential danger. ● Avoid getting caught up in the crowd if political candidates--who could be targeted at close range by hostile individuals--move amongst the audience. If you intend on asking a candidate a question, do so from a safe distance (if feasible). 4 ● Regularly monitor the crowd for individuals who may present a threat. Pay attention to how people are behaving, if they are armed, and if/how they are communicating with others. Trust your instincts, and maintain a safe distance behind or to the side of any suspicious individuals. Alert the authorities if safe to do so. ● Pay attention to vehicles parked close by and any individuals in or around them for signs of suspicious activity. ● Remain alert to speeding vehicles or motorbikes approaching the location, which could be used to target political candidates in drive-by shootings. ● Have an escape strategy in case circumstances turn hostile. You may need to plan this on arrival, but if possible try and do so in advance. Once at the event, familiarize yourself with your surroundings. Report from a secure location (such as a press holding area if there is one), taking into account the distance from all available exit routes. ● If working with others identify an emergency rendezvous point. Regularly assess the safety of all routes leading to this point. ● Avoid hanging around and/or questioning people if the crowd becomes hostile. ● Park your vehicle facing the direction of escape in an accessible and secure location, or ensure you have an alternative guaranteed mode of transport. Planning & general safety ● Research in advance who is likely to be at the event. Consider wearing a protective body vest if in an area of high crime, if the political candidate is a potential target, or if violence can be expected from opposition supporters. For more information see CPJ’s personal protect equipment (PPE) guide here (available only in English). ● If reporting from an outdoor event, consider the time of day and exposure to the sun, noting that you may be waiting for some time before an event starts. Keep hydrated, wear a sun hat, and apply sunscreen if necessary. ● If event security is provided, try to find how professional/competent they are, and if they are likely to assist you if in danger, especially if harassment and/or physical or sexual assault is a potential risk. ● Working with a colleague is sensible, so consider going with another reporter or photographer if possible, noting that election events may finish late into the evening. After dark the risk level increases. ● Ensure that you have the correct accreditation or press identification with you. For freelancers, a letter from the commissioning employer is helpful. Have it on display only if safe to do so. Avoid using a lanyard around your neck; clip it to a belt or in a transparent velcro pouch around your bicep instead. ● If the crowd might be or become hostile toward the media, avoid clothing with media company branding and remove media logos from equipment/vehicles if necessary. ● Wear sturdy footwear with hard soles, laces, and some kind of ankle support. Avoid wearing sandals or slip-on shoes. ● If spitting or projectiles from the crowd are a possibility, consider wearing a waterproof, discrete bump cap. 5 ● Try to gauge the mood of the crowd. If possible, call other journalists already at the event to assess the atmosphere. If the crowd/speakers are hostile to the media, mentally prepare for verbal abuse. In such circumstances, just do your job and report. Do not react to the abuse and avoid engaging with the crowd. Remember, you are a professional even if others are not. ● Identify the closest point/location of medical assistance. ● If the task was difficult/challenging, try not to bottle up your emotions or hide your feelings. Try to discuss any challenging experiences with your superiors and colleagues, which can often help release built-up tension and anxiety. Physical safety: Surveillance and working in areas of high crime Media workers may be required to report from areas of high crime throughout the election cycle, and may be harassed and/or targeted by criminals, politicians, or the police. They may also be subjected to physical surveillance. Although areas of high crime are often well-known, be aware that any location can be subject to criminal activity and violence. A protester destroys an election campaign poster during a march in Chilpancingo, Mexico, on March 26, 2015, on the six-month anniversary of the disappearance of 43 students in the southwestern state of Guerrero. (AP/Alejandrino Gonzalez) 6 General safety advice ● Media workers should consider their profile and previous work before travelling to an area of high crime. Note that you could be at increased risk of surveillance and potential harm if you have reported on a criminal group/s or politician/s in the area before. ● Research the location in advance. Understand the type of crime/s that is prevalent in the area, as well as the layout so that routes in/out can be assessed for potential issues, such as dead ends or choke points. Be fluid with your plans and prepared to adapt your itinerary accordingly. ● Try to establish and work with trusted contacts in the area you intend to visit, who can provide advice/assistance during your assignment. Be aware that non-locals are often treated with suspicion, particularly in areas controlled by cartels. If working in a particularly dangerous area, consider the need for extra support or working alongside the authorities (if safe to do so). ● It is sensible to maintain a low profile throughout the assignment, avoiding any overt displays of wealth or attracting undue attention.