The Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, has called on the authorities to investigate the killing of Néhémie Joesph on 10 October in the Haitian city of Mirebalais.
“I condemn the murder of Néhémie Joseph,” the Director-General said. “I urge authorities to spare no effort in investigating this crime and ensuring that all those involved are brought to trial. Journalists and the media bring an indispensable contribution to democracy and governments must prioritize their safety.”
The dead body of Néhémie Joseph, a radio reporter and presenter for Mirebalais-based Panic FM and Port-au-Prince radio station Méga, was found in the trunk of his car after his shooting by unknown assailants. The journalist recently said on social media that he had received threats regarding his reporting on the authorities’ handling of the political crisis affecting the country.
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