Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, has denounced two separate violent attacks on journalists in northeastern Mexico: the killings of Héctor González Antonio in Ciudad Victoria, and Alicia Díaz González in the city of Monterrey.
“I condemn the killing of Alicia Díaz González and Héctor González Antonio,” said the Director-General. “I trust that the authorities will investigate these crimes and bring their perpetrators to trial. This is essential for the defense of the fundamental human right that is freedom of expression and for the preservation of the Mexican public’s right to be kept informed.”
The body of Héctor González Antonio, who reported on local news for national newspaper Excelsior and television broadcaster Imagen, was found in the streets of Ciudad Victoria on 29 May. He had been beaten to death.
On 24 May, Alicia Díaz González, a financial reporter for El Financiero, was found dead in her home in Monterrey, where she had been stabbed and beaten.
UNESCO promotes the safety of journalists through global awareness-raising, capacity-building and a range of actions, notably the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.
See also: UNESCO condemns the killing of journalists.
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Media contact: Sylvie Coudray, s.coudray@unesco.org, +33 (0)1 45 68 08 91