KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 15): Every week, a journalist is killed for doing his or her job around the world, with nine of ten cases going unpunished, according to the United Nations (UN) Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Irina Bokova.

Expressing alarm at the deliberate attack on journalists, she said " ... this is simply unacceptable."

“As the United Nations agency mandated to protect freedom of expression and press freedom, UNESCO stands up every time a journalist is killed and we call for effective justice,” she said

In a statement on the UN’s website Jan 14, Bokova said the attack against French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo was an attack against freedom of expression whose flag bearers are journalists.

A total of 17 people were killed during the terrorist attack on the editorial staff at Charlie Hebdo, and the subsequent hostage siege at a kosher supermarket in Paris.

She said this in conjunction with a debate on press freedom at the UN.

Participating in the debate were members of the French and international media, UNESCO member states, opinion-makers and journalism schools.

The programme was opened by Ms. Bokova and leading French cartoonist Plantu.