By Isabela Fraga
During the first six months of 2012, 72 journalists were killed worldwide, a 33 percent increase over the same period the year before, according to a report published on Monday, July 2, by the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), a Swiss organization that monitors press freedom of press. Most of the killings occurred in Latin America and the Caribbean, where 23 journalists were killed from January through June.
Mexico is the country with the second-most journalists killed worldwide during that period, with 8 killings. Brazil ranked fifth worldwide with six journalists killed. In Honduras there were four journalists killed, and in Bolívia, two journalists were killed. Also, one journalist was killed in Colombia, one in Panama, and one in Haiti.
The killing of Mexican journalist Victor Baez, on June 14, was the most recent case. It is believed that he was a victim of organized crime of Veracruz. On Saturday, June 30, authorities arrested nine suspects, at least one of whom is believed responsible for killing the journalist.
The PEC report shows journalists were killed in 21 countries worldwide. Syria was first place in the ranking, with 20 journalists killed in 2012. Also, six journalists were killed each in Somalia and Pakistan, four in the Philippines, three in Nigeria, and one each in Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iraq, Nepal, Uganda, and Thailand.
Note from the editor: This story was originally published by the Knight Center’s blog Journalism in the Americas, the predecessor of LatAm Journalism Review.
