Killing of journalists with impunity "simply unacceptable"


It is unacceptable that nine out of ten cases of murder of journalists go unpunished, the head of the UN cultural agency (UNESCO) said on Wednesday.

Irina Bokova spoke at an event at UNESCO headquarters entitled "Journalism after Charlie-Day of reflection and debate on Freedom of Expression".

It has been organized in solidarity with France and the media worldwide in the wake of the killing of 12 people in an armed assault on a satirical newspaper called Charlie Hebdo in Paris last week.

"The attack against Charlie Hebdo was an attack against freedom of expression, a pillar of this shared vision whose flag bearers are journalists. The numbers are staggering. Every seven days one journalist is killed for doing his or her job. Nine out of ten cases go unpunished and this is simply unacceptable."

Ms Bokova said that as the United Nations agency mandated to protect freedom of expression and press freedom, UNESCO stands up every time a journalist is killed and calls for effective justice.

SOURCE: Stephanie Castro, United Nations