STATEMENT BY THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF UNOG ON PHOTOGRAPHER ACCREDITED TO THE PALAIS DES NATIONS, KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN

The Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva learned with shock today of the death of Anja Niedringhaus, an Associated Press photographer killed in Afghanistan where she was covering the upcoming elections. Based in Geneva, Ms. Niedringhaus had been accredited at the Palais des Nations since 2002, and was highly respected among her colleagues as a dedicated and accomplished award-winning professional. The Director-General recalled the Secretary-General's statement yesterday denouncing violence by any group in Afghanistan and reiterating that deliberate attacks against civilians are serious violations of international humanitarian law. He also stressed the importance of ensuring that journalists can perform freely and without fear or intimidation their indispensable work to report, inform and educate.
The Director-General extends his condolences to Ms. Niedringhaus' family and friends.


For use of the information media; not an official record

DG14/002E