IAPA denounces ongoing threats and attacks on press in Haiti

Argentina.- Journalists in Haiti continue to face threats and attacks despite no recent murders, according to the latest Inter-American Press Association (IAPA) report, pending approval by its assembly. Violence remains rampant, with criminal gangs controlling much of Port-au-Prince, forcing reporters to work under minimal security. Though no journalists have been killed recently, sports reporter Nerval Pierre Viliat tragically died in March after being hit by a stray bullet during a police-gang shootout.

The IAPA highlights the prevailing fear and stress among journalists, exacerbated by poor infrastructure and a lack of basic services like communication networks and healthcare. Despite these challenges, the press remains committed to informing the public. In May, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights called for measures to ensure journalists’ safety in Haiti, urging the Transitional Council and the Organization of American States to restore order.

In 2023, violence claimed 8,000 victims in Haiti, with nearly 3,900 in the first half alone. The IAPA report reminds that three journalists were murdered in 2023, and nine were killed the previous year in what was described as the most brutal attack on the press.