Honduras Urged to Protect Journalists

A group of U.N. human rights experts urged the Honduran government to take immediate action to end violence against journalists. Seven media professionals have been killed during April and May alone, and several others have been threatened. “We urge the government to take all necessary measures to thoroughly investigate these killings and threats, prosecute those responsible and ensure the physical and psychological integrity of all journalists under threat,” the U.N. special rapporteurs said in a statement issued in Geneva on May 10. “In particular, we call upon the government to establish an independent inquiry aimed at shedding light on these issues, as well as at identifying measures that could be taken to better protect journalists.” Honduran authorities classified a report on the killings, but Public Security Minister Oscar álvarez insisted that they were not motivated by politics or ideology.