Spanish
Punta Cana – During the inauguration of the 81st General Assembly of the Inter American Press Association (IAPA), President Luis Abinader stated this Thursday that freedom of the press constitutes a fundamental pillar for democracy, and emphasized that a government that fears the press fears the truth.
In his speech, the president highlighted that his administration protects the right to inform and to be informed, promoting an environment of respect, security, and professional ethics.You may be interested in: UASD condemns violent incident and calls for thorough investigation
“Without a free press, there is no transparency; without transparency, there is no trust; and without trust, democracy fades away,” emphasized Abinader, who also highlighted the importance of fostering debate and constructive criticism as instruments of democratic strengthening. The head of state described the defense of truth as a form of "civic patriotism" and reaffirmed that freedom of the press requires trust and mutual respect: "As long as a free voice is heard in this country, a brave truth is published and a different opinion is respected, we can proudly say that freedom lives among us." During the assembly, Abinader and the president of the SIP, José Roberto Dutriz, signed the Declaration of Salta II on principles of freedom of expression in the digital age, an update of the original 2018 declaration that responds to current technological and digital challenges. The event, which will span four days, brings together editors, journalists, and media executives from the Americas to discuss freedom of the press, media sustainability, and the impact of artificial intelligence on the profession. Participants include Jon Lee Anderson, Gabriela Vivanco, Rosental Calmon Alves, Carlos Jornet, Boris Muñoz, Carlos Fernando Chamorro, Luz Mely Reyes, Pedro Vaca, and Paul Deegan, among others. The president of the SIP warned about the challenges facing journalism in the region, citing cases of stigmatization and persecution in countries such as Cuba, Nicaragua and El Salvador, and stressed that "without independent journalism there is no democracy". For her part, Laura Gil, Assistant Secretary General of the OAS, congratulated the Dominican Republic for holding the highest press freedom index in Latin America, highlighting this achievement as a recognition of the government's commitment to democracy. The SIP General Assembly will address three thematic blocks: freedom of the press and democracy at risk; innovation, sustainability and digital transformation; and the future and training of journalism in the region, including the presentation of reports on the situation of the press in 24 countries in the Americas.
