WHEREAS

the President of Brazil transmitted to the National Congress draft legislation to create a Federal Journalism Council with regional offices

WHEREAS

the aforementioned bill, through creation of said Council, establishes that the work of journalists will be the exclusive domain of professionals affiliated with the Council, thereby enabling the Council to bar people from working in the profession

WHEREAS

according to said draft legislation, the Council has the power to guide, discipline and oversee the profession and practice of journalism

WHEREAS

the proposed law profoundly undercuts freedom of expression, freedom of the press, and therefore democracy itself

Principle 5 of the Declaration of Chapultepec states, "Prior censorship, restrictions on the circulation of the media or dissemination of their reports, forced publication of information, the imposition of obstacles to the free flow of news, and restrictions on the activities and movements of journalists directly contradict freedom of the press"

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE IAPA RESOLVES

to ask the President of the Republic to withdraw the bill, taking into account that the Inter-American Court of Human Rights has issued an opinion stating that no obligations or prerequisites can be imposed on the practice of journalism

to send an official letter to the leadership of the Senate and the House, and to the Congressional leadership of all parties represented in the legislative arena, requesting their complete rejection of this bill

to urgently arrange a special mission to meet with the presidents of the Senate and House and make clear to them how seriously the bill could damage freedom of the press.