Paris, 06 January—The Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, has condemned the hit and run killing of SV Pradeep in the city of Thiruvananthapuram, in the southern Indian state of Kerala on 14 December last year.
I condemn the killing of SV Pradeep. I call on the authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of SV Pradeep and hold those responsible to account. Journalists’ ability to work safely is an important precondition for democracy and public debate.
SV Pradeep, a veteran television journalist working for a number of major media organizations, was riding a motorcycle when he was hit by a truck that sped away. He died from his injuries shortly after the collision.
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
Media contact: Guilherme Canela de Souza Godoi