The Director-General of UNESCO has denounced the killing of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia on 16 October.
"I condemn the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia,” said the Director-General. “I welcome the pledge by the Prime Minister of Malta to bring to justice this crime against a person and against the rights of freedom of expression and freedom of information, which are essential to democracies everywhere."
Daphne Caruana Galizia died when a bomb exploded in her car as she left her home in Bidnija. She published an influential blog, Running Commentary, as well as working with The Sunday Times of Malta and The Malta Independent.
The Director-General of UNESCO issues statements on the killing of media workers in line with Resolution 29 adopted by UNESCO Member States at the Organization’s General Conference of 1997, entitled “Condemnation of Violence against Journalists.” These statements are posted on a dedicated webpage, UNESCO condemns the killing of journalists.
UNESCO is the 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 the Organization is requested 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…”