UNESCO director urges investigation into Mexican journalist's murder

UNESCO's Director-General, Audrey Azoulay, has urged investigation into the killing of journalist Nevith Condes Jaramillo.

I condemn the murder, which underscores the need for timely and effective protection measures for all threatened journalists, Azoulay said.

Regarding the August 24's crime in Mexico, Azoulay warned that violence against media workers presents a major threat to a free and open society.

'We must defend the right of journalists to carry out their work, which is essential for democracy,' he noted.

Condes Jaramillo, the founding director creator of a local news site El Observatorio del Sur, was stabbed to death in his home in Tejulpilco. Colleagues quoted in the media have alleged that the journalist last year received two threats to his life following the publication of articles on corruption in local government.

Since 2000, a 132 journalists have been murdered in Mexico in relation to their work, 122 of them male reporters and 10 women. So far this year, 10 journalists have been assassinated.

mh/pll / jf / wmr