Director-General urges Mexico to shed light on killings of Rogelio Barragán Pérez, Edgar Alberto Nava López, and Jorge Ruiz Vázquez

The Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, has condemned the killing of three journalists in Mexico, Edgar Alberto Nava López, Rogelio Barragán Pérez, and Jorge Ruiz Vázquez, calling on the authorities to investigate these crimes, perpetrated between the end of July and 2 August. All three journalists had previously reported intimidation or threats on their lives due to their work.

“I condemn the killings of Jorge Ruiz Vázquez, Edgar Alberto Nava López, and Rogelio Barragán Pérez,” said the Director-General. “I call on the authorities to investigate these killings and bring their perpetrators to trial. I also urge the authorities to reinforce measures to protect media workers as they play an essential role in safeguarding democracy and rule of law.”

Rogelio Barragán Pérez—director of Guerrero Al Instante, a news website for which he also reported on crime—was found dead in the trunk of a car on 30 July in Zacatepec, in the state of Morelos. He is reported to have stopped signing the articles he published some time ago due to concerns for his safety.

Edgar Alberto Nava López, founder of news website La Verdad de Zihuatanejo, was shot dead on 2 August in Zihuatanejo, in the state of Guerrero, and is reported to have received threats to his life due to his reporting on crime.

Jorge Ruiz Vázquez, a reporter for Grafico de Xalapa, was shot dead in his home in Actopan, in the state of Veracruz, on 2 August. He had previously reported receiving threats in connection with his reporting on corruption. Ruiz Vázquez, was killed a few days before he was scheduled to testify about these threats before state authorities.

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

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Media contact: Sylvie Coudray, s.coudray@unesco.org, +33 (0)1 45 68 08 91