The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) deplores and condemns the killing of 59 journalists in six months
Geneva, 5 July 2010 (PEC) – The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) announced that during the first six months of the year from January to the end of June 59 journalists were killed in 25 countries which constitute an increase of 10% in the number of killed journalists as compared to the same period in 2009.
PEC Secretary-General Blaise Lempen noted that journalists are extremely exposed in countries which witness internal problems.
Lempen added that governments and the international community must act in firmness to stop those killings and bring the perpetrators of those crimes to justice.
Mexico remains the most dangerous country in terms of media work with nine journalists killed, Honduras second (8 killed), followed by Pakistan (6), Nigeria (4), the Philippines (4).
Journalists killed in those five countries represent half of the killed journalists in the reporting period.
Another three were killed in Russia, 3 in Colombia, 2 in the following four countries: Iraq, Nepal, Thailand and Venezuela.
One journalist was killed in Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameron, Cyprus, Ecuador, Israel, Democratic Republic of the Congo DRC), Rwanda, Turkey, Somalia and Yemen.
Lempen added that two French journalists remain in captivity for the past six months in East Afghanistan and stressed that the PEC deplores the dangers to which journalists are subjected to because of their work which includes hostage taking.
He noted that the reasons for killing journalists vary from country to country, among those reasons is hunting journalists by organized crime groups in Mexico, conflicts between governments and the opposition in Honduras and Thailand, tribal tensions in Pakistan and Nigeria, settling political disputes in the Philippines, the Caucus and in Nepal.
The tally by continent is highest in Latin America where in six months 24 journalists in total were killed, Asia comes in second place with 14 journalists killed, and in Africa the number tends to grow with nine killed.
During the first six months of 2009, the PEC registered the killing of 53 journalists, a higher tally than that of the same period in 2008 which stood at 45 killed.
For the year 2009 a record of 122 journalists were killed because of their profession and 91 in 2008.
PEC Secretary-General Blaise Lempen noted that journalists are extremely exposed in countries which witness internal problems.
Lempen added that governments and the international community must act in firmness to stop those killings and bring the perpetrators of those crimes to justice.
Mexico remains the most dangerous country in terms of media work with nine journalists killed, Honduras second (8 killed), followed by Pakistan (6), Nigeria (4), the Philippines (4).
Journalists killed in those five countries represent half of the killed journalists in the reporting period.
Another three were killed in Russia, 3 in Colombia, 2 in the following four countries: Iraq, Nepal, Thailand and Venezuela.
One journalist was killed in Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameron, Cyprus, Ecuador, Israel, Democratic Republic of the Congo DRC), Rwanda, Turkey, Somalia and Yemen.
Lempen added that two French journalists remain in captivity for the past six months in East Afghanistan and stressed that the PEC deplores the dangers to which journalists are subjected to because of their work which includes hostage taking.
He noted that the reasons for killing journalists vary from country to country, among those reasons is hunting journalists by organized crime groups in Mexico, conflicts between governments and the opposition in Honduras and Thailand, tribal tensions in Pakistan and Nigeria, settling political disputes in the Philippines, the Caucus and in Nepal.
The tally by continent is highest in Latin America where in six months 24 journalists in total were killed, Asia comes in second place with 14 journalists killed, and in Africa the number tends to grow with nine killed.
During the first six months of 2009, the PEC registered the killing of 53 journalists, a higher tally than that of the same period in 2008 which stood at 45 killed.
For the year 2009 a record of 122 journalists were killed because of their profession and 91 in 2008.
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