Freedom of expression violated: Attacks on the press in the protests against Dina Boluarte from December 2022 – March 2023

Abstract

The press and free expression are fundamental pillars of a democratic system. The state and situation of both provides a diagnosis of the quality of democracy and respect for human rights. After the arrival of Dina Boluarte to the highest public office in the country, the presidency, large social protests arose at the national level against her investiture. The government deployed police and military contingents to confront the social mobilization where crimes against human rights were committed to the detriment of the civilian population. Men and women from the press were not immune to this violence and reported attacks and harassment by members of the Police and the Army when they carried out their work covering the social protests.

The essay seeks to analyze how the State has violated the freedom of expression of the media during the days of greatest social mobilization. The review of the report of attacks and harassment of the press, plus the use of the legal system to restrict freedom of information, are symptoms of the repressive scenario. Likewise, delve into the concept of free expression, its crucial link with the media and the legal framework required for citizen-focused performance by the press.