Venezuela
Government partially acquitted in TV journalist casesPosted Mar 17 2009
The Venezuelan government has been partially acquitted by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in two cases involving RCTV and Globovision, El Nacional reports.
One case was brought by Globovision journalist Gabriela Perozo, while the other was filed by RCTV journalist Luisiana Rios.
The court ruled that the government did not violate the rights of equality and freedom of expression. However, it also ruled “Venezuelan government intimidated and obstructed the work of journalists through attacks and putting their personal safety at risk.”
The Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas reports that Venezuelan authority figures have been ordered to investigate the acts and punish those responsible. Also, they are required to embrace a certain criterion that would avoid the restrictions journalists currently encounter.
Globovision welcomed the court verdict: “After so many years seeing how the employees of Globovision are attacked within the complacent view of the Venezuelan authorities, without anyone being prosecuted until now, this sentence fills that vacuum of justice that we've been waiting for for so long.”
More information
- Knight Center