WiPC 2008 Resolution: Colombia

The Assembly of Delegates of International PEN, meeting at its 74th Congress in Bogota, Colombia, 17-22 September 2008

Alarmed by the high numbers of journalists in Colombia who are reported to be receiving constant threats for their writings;

Calls as a matter of urgency upon the government of Colombia to:

Provide these journalists with protection against attack;

Bring to prosecution all those who threaten journalists and by so doing ensure that they are not granted impunity;

Take measures to ensure that threatened journalists are not further endangered by comments made by public officials that could exacerbate further violence against them

Further calls on the pertinent institutions in Colombia to speed up outstanding investigations and thus bring to justice all those who have committed crimes against journalists and thus allay suggestions that these crimes are allowed to go unpunished;

Finally urges that the Colombian government does all in its power to promote a culture of dialogue in recognition of the role of the word in creating a culture of peace.