Christophe Deloire, Head of Reporters Without Borders, Passes Away

New Delhi: Christophe Deloire, the director-general of the global press freedom organisation Reporters Without Borders, has passed away. He was 53.

Deloire, who was also secretary-general of Reporters Without Borders International, was suffering from cancer.

In a press note, the organisation has announced that Deloire had held the post for 12 years. In his time, it said, he has "transformed the association, marked by renewed growth and impact, into a global champion for the defence of journalism."

In India, the RSF is perhaps best known for its rankings on press freedom, where India’s standing has plummeted dramatically over the past decade.

Deloire was also founding president of the Forum on Information and Democracy since 2018 and was appointed General Delegate of the États généraux de l'information in 2023.

An Associated Press report on his passing notes that Deloire travelled constantly, to Ukraine, Turkey, Africa and beyond to lobby governments and defend journalists behind bars or under threat.

The report says Deloire helped Russian broadcast journalist Marina Ovsiannikova flee Russia in a secret operation in 2022, worked for the release of journalist Olivier Dubois, held by Islamic extremists in Mali for two years and freed in 2023, and for other jailed reporters.

"His contribution to defending this fundamental right has been considerable," Pierre Haski, the chairman of RSF's Board of Directors, said.

Deloire is survived by his wife Perrine, their son Nathan, and his parents.

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