The Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, has urged the authorities to investigate the killing of broadcast journalist Fidel Ávila Gómez in the Mexican state of Michoacán.
"I condemn the murder of Fidel Ávila Gómez," said the Director-General. "I call on the authorities to ensure a thorough investigation of this murder and bring its perpetrators to trial. Rule of law needs to be upheld in the interest of press freedom, the cornerstone of informed democratic debate in any society."
Ávila Gómez, a manager and news anchor for radio broadcaster La Ke Buena in the town of Huétamo, was found dead near the town of San Lucas in January with signs of gunshot wounds. Ávila Gómez was last seen alive on 29 November and was reported missing on 2 December last. The exact date of his killing remains unclear.
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.
