Honoring three journalists who died reporting in Africa. This is Place Ghislaine Dupont Claude Verlon Camille Lepage. It stands as a somber reminder of the risks journalists face.
This place is more than just a square. It is located in Paris’s 2nd arrondissement. Rue d’Aboukir, Rue du Louvre and Rue Montmartre surround it. It marks where the old press district used to be.
The square is named for Ghislaine Dupont, Claude Verlon and Camille Lepage. They all died while working as journalists in Africa. Their dedication to informing the world cost them their lives.
Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon were killed in Mali in November 2013. They worked for Radio France Internationale RFI. Camille Lepage was a photojournalist. She died in the Central African Republic in May 2014.
Camille Lepage was born in Angers in 1988. She studied journalism in England and the Netherlands. Lepage aimed to cover neglected areas. She wanted to report new images from ignored regions. South Sudan was one of her main focuses. She later moved to the Central African Republic. She wanted to document the civil war there.
Lepage’s work appeared in major media outlets. These included The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post. Amnesty International and Doctors Without Borders also hired her.
In May 2014, Camille Lepage was killed in the Central African Republic. She was only 26 years old. She was killed by a bullet to the head. She was reporting on diamond exploitation near the Cameroonian border.
The United Nations Security Council condemned her killing. They called for a swift investigation. They wanted those responsible brought to justice. France also launched an investigation into her death. But the case remains unsolved.
The Place Ghislaine Dupont Claude Verlon Camille Lepage was inaugurated on May 3, 2019. This date coincided with World Press Freedom Day. The Syndicat National des Journalistes SNJ organized the event. They partnered with the Mairie de Paris.
The square honors the memory of these three journalists. It reminds us of the importance of press freedom. Every year on World Press Freedom Day, people gather here. They celebrate the values these journalists upheld.
Walking through the Place Ghislaine Dupont Claude Verlon Camille Lepage is a moment to reflect. Think about the courage required to report the truth. Consider the sacrifices made in the pursuit of information. The square serves as a permanent tribute. It honors Ghislaine Dupont, Claude Verlon and Camille Lepage. It reminds us to value and protect press freedom worldwide.