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The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, today called for an investigation into the killing of newspaper journalist Peter Moi Julius in Juba on 19 August.

“I condemn the killing of journalist Peter Moi Julius,” the Director-General said. “Citizens rely on the media to make informed choices, which is why journalists must be able to practice their profession in safe conditions. I urge the authorities investigate this case thoroughly in the interest of press freedom and rule of law.”

Peter Julius Moi worked with the independent New Nation newspaper in Juba. He was shot on his way home after work.

The Director-General of UNESCO issues statements on the killing of media workers in line with Resolution 29 adopted by UNESCO Member States at the Organization’s General Conference of 1997, entitled “Condemnation of Violence against Journalists.” These statements are posted on a dedicated webpage, UNESCO condemns the killing of journalists.

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Media contact: Sylvie Coudray, s.coudray(at)unesco.org,  +33 (0)1 45 68 42 12

UNESCO is the United Nations agency with a mandate to defend freedom of expression and press freedom. Article 1 of its Constitution requires the Organization to “further universal respect for justice, for the rule of law and for the human rights and fundamental freedoms which are affirmed for the peoples of the world, without distinction of race, sex, language or religion, by the Charter of the United Nations.” To realize this the Organization is requested to “collaborate in the work of advancing the mutual knowledge and understanding of peoples, through all means of mass communication and to that end recommend such international agreements as may be necessary to promote the free flow of ideas by word and image…”