María Efigenia Vásquez Astudillo’s Murder — Our Statement

CAUCA, COLUMBIA, October 8 — Colombian journalist María Efigenia Vásquez Astudillo was killed as she reported on clashes between the police and the indigenous community.

Vásquez’s death adds to the growing number of women journalists being targeted for their work. The radio reporter was taken to a hospital where she succumbed to her injuries. The Colombian journalist was killed by a home-made weapon.

It is unclear whether her death was caused by the police or the protesters. The Coalition For Women In Journalism finds it alarming that journalists can simply lose their lives while reporting from the field.

We urge authorities to do their part in ensuring that they are part of the solution and not the problem. Vásquez was a hands-on journalist who had entered the field at the young age of 17 in 2003. She is remembered by colleagues as someone dedicated to telling the truth.

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The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world, and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

Follow us on Instagram @womeninjournalism and Twitter @CFWIJ.

Our website is WomenInJournalism.org and we can be reached at press@womeninjournalism.org