Campaign to target impunity surrounding crimes against journalists

Dear Editor,

The Inter American Press Association ( IAPA) is launching its Immortal Pencils campaign to raise awareness about the impunity that surrounds most crimes against journalists, and the lack of justice that encourages more violence, censorship, and self-censorship.

When the campaign is officially launched on October 21, IAPA requests the collaboration of its members, the media and journalists – as well as non-members – to publish ads, banners and other materials that can be downloaded from the media kit at the website: www.lapicesinmortales. The goal is to invite users to join the cause and register their names and emails on the website – which will serve to urge governments to act on this important issue by advancing policies against impunity and in favour of the safety of journalists.

Immortal Pencils, under the slogan: “Voices can be silenced, but freedom is bulletproof” – a campaign created by Zubi Advertising in Miami – is based on three emblematic cases that the IAPA embraces as symbols of its struggle: Irma Flaquer, Guatemala, disappeared in 1980; Carlos Lajud Catalán, Colombia, assassinated in 1993; and Alfredo Jiménez Mota, Mexico, disappeared in 2005.

The journalists are immortalized in these pencils, and with them more than 500 other communicators who were murdered over the last two decades in the Americas. The pencils contain the DNA of Irma, Carlos, and Alfredo, collected by a laboratory in Miami from items donated by their families – the DNA was then infused in the graphite of the pencils crafted in San Salvador.

The IAPA, convinced that this strong and solemn symbol can open consciences and hearts, appreciates the responsiveness of the creatives and executives at Zubi and the support of renowned journalist Jorge Ramos of Univisión, and also, in advance, all the press organizations, media, journalists and influencers who will join this campaign.

The IAPA expects the campaign to kick off on October 21 – after the official launch during its General Assembly, and to continue through the latter part of the year, gaining especial momentum on November 2 – the International Day to End Crimes Against Journalists – with the publication of the materials, editorials and columns.

For those who wish to participate in the campaign, IAPA requests they send their materials to info@sipiapa.org, in addition to using the hashtag #lapicesinmortales, which will help to quantify the efficacy of the campaign.

For more information, please visit: www.lapicesinmortales.com

Yours faithfully,

Christopher Barnes

Juan Francisco Ealy LanzDuret

President

President Sub-Committee against Impunity