Miami (February 10, 2022) - The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) condemned the murder of journalist Givanildo Oliveira in Brazil. The organization urged the authorities to investigate thoroughly and expeditiously to determine responsibility and clarify whether the crime was motivated by his professional work.
Givanildo Oliveira, known as 'Gigi,' blogger and founder of the online news channel Pirambu News, died on February 7. The crime, recorded by security cameras, occurred near his home in the Pirambu neighborhood of Fortaleza, capital of Ceará. He received several shots.
"We express our solidarity with the journalist's family and colleagues. Furthermore, we ask the authorities to carry out their investigations urgently to find out if the murder was due to his profession," said Jorge Canahuati, IAPA president and CEO of Grupo OPSA, Honduras.
"Effective investigation and timely punishment of those responsible is the best antidote to confront the violent," added Carlos Jornet, chairman of the Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information and editor of the Argentine newspaper La Voz del Interior. He said seven other journalists were killed this year, four in Mexico, two in Haiti, and Honduras.
According to local media, Oliveira, 46, had been threatened for publishing information about criminals in the area. As a result, the online channel announced that it would no longer publish content on public security.
Canahuati and Jornet indicated that IAPA is concerned about the increasing levels of violence against the press.
According to the FENAJ (National Federation of Journalists) Report on Violence against Journalists and Press Freedom, 430 journalists were victims of aggression in 2021. Furthermore, FENAJ fears that attacks will increase during this election year.
The IAPA Chapultepec Index 2021, a barometer that measures press freedom performance, showed that "Brazil worsened" in terms of press freedom compared to 2020. The Index concludes that Brazil "reveals a framework of fragility in terms of freedom of expression."
IAPA is a non-profit organization dedicated to defending and promoting freedom of the press and expression in the Americas. It comprises more than 1,300 publications from the western hemisphere; and is based in Miami, Florida, United States.
