Let's end impunity, protect journalists

The UN General Assembly proclaimed 2 November as the 'International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists' (IDEI) in 2013. The Day is to celebrate committing the implement of specific measures countering the present culture of impunity. The date was chosen in commemoration of the assassination of two French journalists in Mali on 2 November 2013.

Attacks and violence against journalists and media workers are seen as a threat to freedom of the press. The UN Member States are urged to do their best to combat violence against journalists and media workers, to ensure accountability, bring to justice perpetrators of crimes, and ensure that victims have access to appropriate remedies.

The UN advocates for a safe and enabling environment for journalists to perform their work independently and without undue interference.

The UN's focus on impunity stems from the worrying situation that only one in ten cases committed against media workers over the past decade has led to a conviction. This impunity emboldens the perpetrators of the crimes and at the same time impunity breeds impunity and feeds into a vicious cycle.

According to the UNESCO Director-General's 2014  Report on the Safety of Journalists and the Danger of Impunity, less than seven percent of the 593 cases of killings of journalists from 2006-2013 have been resolved. A quarter of these cases are considered as “ongoing” referring to their continued investigations over the various stages of the judicial system. In 60 percent of the cases, no information on the judicial process was made available to UNESCO notwithstanding the Director-General's requests for such.

When attacks on journalists remain unpunished, a very negative message is sent that reporting the “embarrassing truth” or “unwanted opinions” will get ordinary people in trouble. Furthermore, society loses confidence in its own judiciary system which is meant to protect everyone from attacks on their rights. Perpetrators of crimes against journalists are thus emboldened when they realize they can attack their targets without ever facing justice.

Compiled by Law Desk (SOURCE: UNESCO.ORG).