Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her Mexican counterpart on the recent murder of several journalists in that country.

We are deeply concerned about the reports of journalists killed in Mexico in January 2022 as a result of their reporting on violence, corruption and criminal groups. Promoting media freedom and the protection of journalists remains a priority for the UK Government. In January 2022, the FCDO's Deputy Director of Democratic Governance and Media Freedom Coordinator visited Mexico to discuss the issues of violence against journalists and the threats to media freedom with the Mexican Government, journalists and civil society, as well as to explore areas of joint collaboration. We continue to engage regularly with Mexican authorities at ministerial, official, and state level to discuss and to support a broad human rights agenda in Mexico. Our Embassy in Mexico City works closely with the Mexican Government and civil society organisations on understanding and reducing the risks faced by journalists and human rights defenders due to their professions. For example, in 2021 our Embassy in Mexico City worked with UNESCO to support the promotion and protection of freedom of expression by supporting journalists through training to develop investigative skills for reporting.