Uruguay / Americas

  
Police are seen in Montevideo, Uruguay, on January 8, 2015. Proposed legislation in Uruguay's parliament would criminalize insulting the police. (AFP/Mario Goldman)

Legislation proposed by new Uruguayan president criminalizes insulting police

Miami, May 14, 2020 — Uruguayan lawmakers should reject a proposed regulation criminalizing insulting police, and ensure that laws do not infringe on free expression, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Uruguayan President-elect Luis Lacalle Pou takes a selfie during the announcement of his incoming cabinet, in Montevideo, Uruguay, in December 2019. His party is seeking to introduce the "right to be forgotten" in a hasty legislative process, raising press freedom concerns. (Reuters/Mariana Greif)

Uruguay’s incoming government must consider press freedom in draft ‘urgency law’

Miami, February 6, 2020—A proposed law introducing the so-called “right to be forgotten” in Uruguay could have negative implications for the work of journalists and access to information online, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Reporter survives shooting in Uruguay

Two unidentified men riding a motorcycle on February 7, 2017, shot at Isabel Prieto Fernández, a reporter with the Uruguayan weekly Caras y Caretas, as she was driving to her home in Montevideo from the beachside town of El Pinar, according to press reports.

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CPJ hails approval of broadcast law in Uruguay

New York, December 22, 2014–The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the passage of a new broadcast law in Uruguay today, which has strong guarantees for freedom of expression and forbids censorship. The law, which was introduced in May 2013 by President José Mujica, is aimed at regulating radio and television with the goal of creating…

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Edison Lanza. (Inter-American Commission on Human Rights)

Uruguay’s Edison Lanza has work cut out as new OAS special rapporteur on freedom of expression

The office of the special rapporteur for freedom of expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights was created in 1997 to advance freedom of expression in the hemisphere, and over that period has contributed significantly to the protection and expansion of press freedom. So when Catalina Botero leaves the office in October, her successor–Edison…

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News from the Committee to Protect Journalists, October 2013

CPJ launches US report Following CPJ’s release of its report on the state of press freedom in the United States, the organization is pursuing high-level meetings with the White House. CPJ had drafted six recommendations that were shared with President Obama, including calling for a guarantee that journalists would not be at legal risk or…

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A presentation at the office of the Uruguayan president: From left, Benoit Hervieu, head of the Americas Desk at Reporters Without Borders; Carlos Lauría, CPJ's senior Americas program coordinator; and President José Mujica. (CPJ)

Uruguayan broadcast bill could be regional model

“Governments pass, but laws stay,” said Uruguayan President José Mujica. During a meeting with CPJ, and representatives from Human Rights Watch and Reporters Without Borders at the president’s executive office in Montevideo, the political capital, the former member of the leftist guerrilla group Tupamaros reflected on the upcoming congressional debate over new broadcast legislation. “It…

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CPJ urges OAS not to weaken human rights system

Dear OAS Ministers of Foreign Affairs: Ahead of the assembly of the Organization of American States on Friday, the Committee to Protect Journalists urges you to oppose any attempts to debilitate the regional human rights system. The failure of member states to preserve the autonomy and independence of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and its special rapporteur on freedom of expression would make citizens throughout the hemisphere more vulnerable to human rights violations and represent a blow to democracy in the Americas.

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Attacks on the Press 2009: Americas Developments

ATTACKS ON THE PRESS: 2009• Main Index AMERICAS Regional Analysis: • In the Americas, Big Brother is watching reporters Country Summaries • Argentina • Brazil • Colombia • Cuba • Ecuador • Honduras • Mexico • Nicaragua • United States • Venezuela • Other developments BOLIVIA An anonymous caller threatened Raphael Ramírez, editor of the…

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CPJ hails approval of press law by Uruguayan Congress

New York, June 11, 2009–The Committee to Protect Journalists commends the Uruguayan Congress’ approval on Wednesday of a bill that repeals criminal defamation on issues of public interest involving officials. The bill is now under consideration of President Tabaré Vázquez for signing it into law.

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