Reporters Without Borders warns of the “systemic deterioration” of press freedom in Peru and other Latin American countries

The worsening situation of the press in these countries has a “profound impact on the region,” said RSF director for Latin America, Artur Romeu, in a telematic press conference.

The situation in Peru is one of the most worrying in the region, since it has lost 67 positions in the world ranking since 2022 and this year it fell to the category of “very serious” situation, occupying position 144 in the world ranking.

The main reason is violence against the press, materialized in Peru with four murders in 2025and the logic of government pressure, which is an element of “cross-cutting” concern throughout the region.

Argentina has lost 69 positions since 2022, reaching 98th place, mainly due to pressure from the Government of President Javier Mileiwho “regularly publishes on their networks that ‘we don’t hate journalists enough,’” as Romeu highlighted.

“Although it may seem symbolic, it has a very important social effect, it mobilizes its bases and increases hostility against the press”stated the regional head of RSF.

Other countries of concern due to their continued negative trend are Ecuador, which has lost 57 positions since 2022 in a context of growing crime, and El Salvador, which fell 31 positions in the same period.

Romeu highlighted that In Nayib Bukele’s El Salvador, “the mobilization of hatred of the press is done in an industrial manner,” with strategies such as harassment against journalists on the networks in order to stigmatize journalists and silence them.

In the opposite direction, Colombia improved 13 places, but RSF warned that this progression is “misleading.” since it is due to a statistical improvement and does not reflect structurally positive changes.

The main problems of the press in Latin America, in the view of RSF, are violence, government pressure and the economic difficulties of the media.which cause precariousness and foster the vulnerability of journalists.

Three Latin American countries remain in the world’s last group of press freedom, although they have advanced positions: Venezuela (159), Cuba (160) and Nicaragua (168)in a “media landscape in ruins, characterized by systematic repression and a lasting collapse of the conditions of practice of the profession,” according to RSF’s annual report.