UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay today called for an investigation into the killing of John Michael Decano, a broadcast journalist.
“I condemn the killing of John Michael Decano,” said the Director-General. “I trust that the investigation into this crime will establish whether Mr Decano’s murder was connected to his activities as a journalist. Regardless, the killing of a journalist who contributed to public debate is a loss for society as a whole, and the perpetrators of this crime need to be brought to trial to protect freedom of expression and freedom of the press.”
Decano, a broadcast journalist with DWPY 88.1 FM radio in Sorsogon City, is reported to have died after having been hit with a heavy object and was found dead on 9 January.
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