Guanajuato Updates Risk Atlas for Journalists and Human Rights Defenders, but Lack of Transparency Raises Questions
The Government of Guanajuato presented an updated version of the Risk Atlas for Journalists and Human Rights Defenders as a tool to identify threats and guide protection measures. However, the public version of the document has generated concerns due to the lack of access to fundamental information, making it difficult to clearly understand the situation faced by those working in journalism in the state.
One of the main points of confusion concerns the so-called “zones of silence.” Although the presentation highlighted the existence of 11 regions where risk conditions limit coverage of certain topics, municipalities such as Dolores Hidalgo and San Miguel de Allende do not appear within this classification. Nevertheless, both municipalities are identified among those with documented cases of risk for journalists, a situation that may lead to misleading interpretations regarding the actual level of vulnerability.
The structure of the public version of the atlas itself contributes to these uncertainties. Several sections refer to data, methodologies, and criteria that are not fully available for public consultation, preventing citizens from verifying information and understanding how risk zones and zones of silence were determined. In a matter as sensitive as the protection of journalists, transparency should be a central element rather than a limitation.
