Centro Nacional de Comunicación Social

The purpose of the project was to develop legal and protection tools to be used by journalists, civil society, congress and media to improve the safety of journalists in Mexico. To achieve it two key documents were created by our main project partner, Mexican NGO National Centre of Social Communication (CENCOS): the Protocol and the Practical Guide on Freedom of Expression in Mexico.  The involvement of another two project partners, British NGO Article 19 http://www.article19.org/  and the IberoAmericana University Human Rights Programme http://www.uia.mx/  ensured that it had a widespread support and impact.  

A diagnosis of the problems faced by journalists in Mexico was the first to use international standards as a guide.  The methodology developed by this project for documenting cases of agression against journalists is in use by journalists, civil society and academincs today.  This successful project is now being implemented across Central America, in a follow up project supported by SPF.

The project also established an important network of journalists,  to fostering support amongst them. As a result of this project, journalists are now better prepared on how to deal with difficult circumstances and how to report aggressions.

A key outcome of the project was a campaign, “It hurts not to know (te hace daño no saber”) developed with a UK campaigning expert.  The campaign, with supporting material including video and radio spots, was launched in December 2008, with the support of key figures such as journalist Lydia Cacho. The Norwegian government is now supporting the continued distribution of this Campaign. 

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