Director-General condemns killing of Mexican journalist José Emilio Galindo Robles

Paris, 08 December 2009

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The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, today condemned the murder of José Emilio Galindo Robles, director of Radio Universidad de Guadalajara in Ciudad Guzmán (Mexico). He was found dead in his home on 24 November.

“I condemn the murder of José Emilio Galindo Robles,” declared the Director-General, adding: “The voice that has been silenced was known to defend the environment as well as human rights. I hope the Mexican authorities will shed light on this crime which proves, yet again, that journalists are on the front line of the daily battle for press freedom.”

José Emilio Galindo Robles, 43, headed Radio Universidad de Guadalajara of Ciudad Guzmán, one of the eight radios in the Radio Universidad de Guadalajara (RUG) network. Specializing in environmental issues, he won the National Prize for Environmental Journalism in 2004. He came second in the Latin American Radio Biennial for his investigation of toxic waste discharged by businesses into the country’s most polluted river, the Santiago. José Emilio Galindo Robles was found gagged and tied to his bed. The cause of death was said to be a fractured cranium.

According to the International Federation of Journalists, more than 50 have been assassinated in Mexico since 2000.

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UNESCO is the only United Nations agency with a mandate to defend freedom of expression and press freedom. Article 1 of its Constitution requires the Organization to “further universal respect for justice, for the rule of law and for the human rights and fundamental freedoms which are affirmed for the peoples of the world, without distinction of race, sex, language or religion, by the Charter of the United Nations.” To realize this purpose the Organization is required to “collaborate in the work of advancing the mutual knowledge and understanding of peoples, through all means of mass communication and to that end recommend such international agreements as may be necessary to promote the free flow of ideas by word and image…”

• Author(s):UNESCOPRESS
• Source:Press Release No.2009-149
• 08-12-2009