The Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, has condemned the assassination of journalist Julio Valdivia in the municipality of Tezonapa in Mexico's state of Veracruz on 9 September.
I condemn the murder of Julio Valdivia. I call on the authorities to investigate this gruesome act of violence and bring its perpetrators to trial. Justice must be enforced to prevent brutal bloodshed from restricting the freedoms we all aspire to enjoy: freedom of speech, press freedom, and the right to access information.
Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General
The body of Valdivia, a regional correspondent specializing in issues of crime and security for El Mundo newspaper, was found near railway tracks.
UNESCO promotes the safety of journalists through global awareness-raising, capacity building and a range of actions, notably in the framework of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.
