In Central America, practicing journalism has become a high-risk activity.
In countries like El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Honduras, journalists and human rights defenders face media closures, criminalization, judicial harassment, digital surveillance, and forced exile, in a context of increasingly pronounced democratic backsliding. However, this reality barely reaches the citizens of Valencia: limited media coverage and new information consumption habits, especially among young people, foster a disconnect that hinders social engagement in their defense. With this project, funded by the Valencia City Council, the Foundation for Justice seeks to bring these voices closer to the city and strengthen the commitment of Valencian citizens to freedom of expression and information as a cornerstone of any democratic society.
Throughout 2026, the project combines training, awareness-raising, and advocacy. Ten short videos featuring testimonials from Central American journalists will be produced and distributed on social media. Workshops on disinformation and critical thinking will also be organized in secondary schools, in collaboration with Maldita Educa, along with teacher training and a talk with students at the University of Valencia. They add an open space for reflection on the documentary Journalists in exile and a practical guide to detecting disinformation and supporting independent journalism. The project also promotes a virtual meeting between journalists from both regions and an institutional declaration of support for the Central American press, open to endorsement by Valencian organizations. All of this is being developed in partnership with the Association of Journalists of El Salvador (APES), the Central American Network of Journalists, the Valencian Journalists' Union, CVONGD, and IDHUV.