History

In the face of threats to the public good of information in Colombia, a group of national and international organizations created, in 2001, the Antonio Nariño Project, with the objective to promote freedom of expression and information in the country. Ever since, PAN (for its name in Spanish) articulates efforts aimed at building a culture of respect and protection for journalistic practice, that safeguards production and access of information in the public interest. 

The name of the project honors Colombia’s precursor of independence, Mr. Antonio Nariño, who was prosecuted, jailed and politically persecuted for translating and publishing the “Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen”. Nariño was a relentless advocate of free expression.

Proyecto Antonio Nariño (PAN) pays homage to the national hero’s historic performance on behalf of the free market of ideas and the proclamation of human rights in Colombia.

Founding organizations and current members of PAN are:

National Association of Colombian Newspapers, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung in Colombia, Foundation for New Iberoamerican Journalism, Foundation for Press Freedom, Media for Peace.

Definition              

Proyecto Antonio Nariño (PAN) is a coalition of organizations created to promote freedom of information and the right to freedom of expression in Colombia. PAN is a platform for joint action, regarding issues and shared interests that unite allies around the fundamental rights, in cases where working together allows coordination of the sector and higher impact of actions. Being a member of PAN does not presuppose total identification with the objectives of other member organizations. PAN’s vision is that of a country where journalism enjoys appropriate conditions for independent exercise of free expression and the citizen right to information.

Worklines and Objectives

1. Follow up

Strengthen work capacity and impact of the media and journalist support sector in Colombia, through systematization of activities, results and tendencies of organizations that directly or indirectly work on behalf of freedom of expression and the right to information in the country.

Exchange information and share experiences among member organizations of the alliance, to identify opportunities and joint actions required between some, or all associates.

Develop joint projects such as campaigns, spaces for encounter and debates, that by means of the institutional weight of an alliance, mobilize government, media outlets, international cooperation and public opinion before freedom of expression and the right to information related issues.

Principles and Values

The concept of freedom of expression and the right to information is framed in a democratic conception of the state founded on the rule of law,  that guarantees prevalence of human rights. Its main doctrinal guidelines are:

PAN is a project independent from the State, political parties, religious beliefs, economic guilds and armed groups.

PAN is a convening platform; representatives of each member organization sit in the steering committee in equal conditions.

Every PAN project will be carried out by member organizations, taking into account the experience of each and the quality of the proposal submitted for execution.

PAN is an alliance open to new institutions, given the consent of steering committee members.

All proposals presented in PAN’s name are discussed in the steering committee and agreed upon by consensus.

PAN seeks funding from national and international agencies without detriment to its autonomy.