Paris, 27 January-UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, has called on the authorities to ensure that those responsible for the 27 January killing of television journalist Efraín Ruales in Guayaquil (Ecuador) are held to account.
I condemn the killing of Efraín Ruales. I call on the authorities to hold to account those responsible for this crime. Ending impunity for crimes against journalists is central to ensuring the safety of a profession that is essential to free, informed democratic debate.
Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO
Ruales, a popular presenter for the Ecuadorian television network Ecuavisa, was shot four times by an unidentified assailant. The journalist had reported receiving threats in relation to his denunciation of alleged corruption.
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.
See also: UNESCO observatory of killed journalists
