ARGENTINA II

WHEREAS
the Supreme Court recently upheld the decision ordering Editorial Perfil to pay punitive damages awarded to former president Carlos Menem because of an article in the magazine Noticias concerning aspects of his private life

WHEREAS
journalists disseminate aspects of the lives of public officials to satisfy the people's legitimate right to information about their ethical conduct

WHEREAS
Principle 10 of the Declaration of Chapultepec says, "No news medium nor journalist may be punished for publishing the truth or criticizing or denouncing the government"

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE IAPA RESOLVES
to address the Supreme Court to express the Inter American Press Association's concern about this decision, which represents a step backward in case law relating to press freedom.