The Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, today denounced the killing of journalist Amjad Hassan Bakir in Syria’s northwestern Governorate of Idlib on 18 June.
“I condemn the killing of Amjad Hassan Bakir,” said the Director-General. “It is essential that journalists be able to carry out their work even in conflict situations when the information they provide can be vital. Warring parties must respect the Geneva Conventions that clearly affirms the civilian status of war reporters.”
Bakir died from a missile that hit the Free Idlib Army vehicle in which he riding as an embedded journalist.
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