UNESCO Director-General condemns the killing of journalists German Vallecillo Jr. and Jorge Posas in Honduras

The Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, condemned the murders of television journalists German Vallecillo Jr., and Jorge Posas, on the 1st of July in the northern Honduran city of La Ceiba.

“I condemn the murder of German Vallecillo and Jorge Posas. A press that is free and safe to operate has a paramount role in democratic societies and, consequently, must be protected and promoted. I trust that the local authorities will investigate this crime to determine the motives of the attack and bring the perpetrators to justice”.

The two colleagues were shot and killed in their car. The attack was caught on a surveillance camera and the police questioned several people. German Vallecillo Jr., a host for the local privately owned TV station 45TV who also ran the radio station Stereo92, had announced his intention to run in the forthcoming parliamentary elections. He was murdered on his 41st birthday. Jorge Posas was a camera operator and technician.

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.