Press release
Director-General condemns murder of Heber López Vásquez in Mexico
PR/20
February 14, 2022
Last update:
April 21, 2022
UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay has called on the authorities to bring the killers of journalist Heber López Vásquez to justice, following the murder of the journalist in the city Salina Cruz, in the Mexican state of Oaxaca on 10 February.
I condemn the murder of Heber López Vásquez. His death is a tragic reminder of the growing risks media workers face as they uphold press freedom and freedom of information. I call on the authorities to investigate this crime and bring its perpetrators to justice.
Audrey Azoulay
UNESCO Director-General
López Vásquez, who covered crime and police for the RCP Noticias news website, was shot dead in his office. He is the fifth journalist murdered in Mexico this year.
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