Medellín authorities and library reaffirm commitment to free expression and culture

The Mayor's Office of Medellín and the Public Library System of Medellín for Latin America have jointly reaffirmed their dedication to freedom of expression, access to information, citizen participation, pluralism, and the diversity of opinions. This commitment was formalized in a statement dated August 3, 2026.

The statement comes in response to a judicial order issued by the Forty-Seventh Criminal Municipal Court with Knowledge Functions of Medellín, stemming from a case initiated by Santiago Alarcón Serna. The legal proceedings also involve Jaime Rafael Nieto López, Fredy Alexander Chaverra Colorado, José Miguel Sánchez, and the publishing house Editorial Desde Abajo, related to a presentation scheduled for April 21, 2026.

Medellín's District of Science, Technology, and Innovation, along with the Public Library, emphasized their ongoing efforts to protect fundamental rights. They highlighted that the cultural institution hosts over 1,950 reading promotion activities annually, and the city's Public Library System conducts more than 7,000 actions each year to promote books and reading. Additionally, the Fiesta del Libro features over 300 book presentations, with programming tailored for publishers, booksellers, authors, and readers.

The entities stressed that "the diversity of perspectives and expressions contributes to the enrichment of public debate and the strengthening of democratic values." They reiterated their commitment to the autonomy of spaces dedicated to knowledge, culture, and research, and affirmed their adherence to the Political Constitution, the law, and the principles guiding administrative functions. The statement underscored the right to expression and the constitutional prohibition of censorship.

“

the diversity of perspectives and expressions contributes to the enrichment of public debate and the strengthening of democratic values that guide our constitutional and legal order.