Free expression- and human rights-organizations commemorate killed journalists in Mexico on the Day of the Dead
PRESS RELEASE
Free expression- and human rights-organizations commemorate killed journalists in Mexico on the Day of the Dead
On Wednesday 2. November, PEN-centers all over the world will mark the Day of the Dead and commemorate our many killed or disappeared colleagues in Mexico, one of the world´ s most violent countries for writers and journalists.
Mexico is one of the most dangerous places in the world in which to practise journalism. In the last five years, 35 journalists have been murdered and eight have gone missing. This year alone, nine journalists have been killed, four of whom were women. Most of the dead, such as La Opinión reporter Eliseo Barrón Hernández, murdered on 25 May 2009, were involved in investigating corruption or reporting on organised crime, and were likely targeted because of their work. The vast majority of these killings and disappearances have not been properly investigated or punished, creating a climate of impunity and fear.
In Norway, seven organizations are now writing a joint letter to Mexico´s president, Felipe Calderón, asking him to stand by the promises he gave when he took office in December 2006. The seven organizations are:
Norwegian Union of Journalists
Norwegian Institute for Journalism
Amnesty Norway
Norwegian Authors´ Union
Norwegian Non-fiction Writers and Translators Association
The Norwegian National Commission for UNESCO
Norwegian PEN
Read the letter to Felipe Calderón here.
See list of killed and disappeared writers in Mexico here.
