EL SALVADOR

WHEREAS
the Office of the Prosecutor-General threatens public officials who provide information to the press

WHEREAS
such practice inhibits and intimidates present and future sources of information on irregularities in matters of public interest occurring within official institutions

WHEREAS
such practice impedes the free flow of information on matters of public interest

WHEREAS
the provisions of Article 324 of the Criminal Code jeopardize free access to sources of information by journalists and threaten the confidentiality of sources

WHEREAS
Principle 3 of the Declaration of Chapultepec states "The authorities must be compelled by law to make available in a timely and reasonable manner the information generated by the public sector. No journalist may be forced to reveal his or her sources of information"

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE IAPA RESOLVES
to condemn the action of the Office of the Prosecutor-General for impeding the free flow of information to the media from government entities on matters of public interest, and call upon it to cease immediately its harassment of sources of information

to urge El Salvador's legislature to repeal Article 324 of the Criminal Code, inasmuch as it creates impediments to freedom of the press.