Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, condemned today the killing of North Irish freelance journalist Lyra McKee, who was killed on 18 April in Londonderry (Derry), Northern Ireland.
"I condemn the killing of Lyra McKee," the Director-General said. "Her death reminds us of the risks journalists face every day in informing the public. I am counting on the ongoing investigation to shed light on the matter and determine the exact circumstances in which she died.”
Lyra McKee, 29-year-old author and independent investigative journalist, worked for the Mediagazer and BuzzFeed News websites. She was shot dead on the night of 18 April while covering clashes in Creggan, a suburb of Londonderry (Derry).
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