The International Day to End Impunity for Crime against Journalists (IDEI) is annually observed worldwide on November 2, as an UN-recognized international day. This day also marks the death of two French journalists, Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon, killed while reporting in Mali. The observance of the international day is to create awareness concerning the level of impunity for crimes against journalists which tends to be exceedingly high across the globe. According to the UNESCO observatory of killed journalists, over 1,000 journalists have been killed worldwide between 2006 and 2020, with less than 10 cases of these killings yet to be judicially resolved.
IDEI, November 2, gives organizations and individuals across the globe the motivation to speak up concerning unresolved cases in their respective countries, writing to government and intra-governmental officials with demand for action and justice. Based on the findings of the UNESCO Director-General’s biennial report on the Safety of Journalists and the Danger of Impunity, UNESCO ensures the organization of an awareness-raising campaign, which is concerned about registering the responses of states to the formal request of UNESCO, for updates on progress in cases of killings of journalists and media workers.
UNESCO is strategizing a more efficient plan to protect journalists.
During the marking of the 2021 International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, the Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State Council, Adeleye Ajayi and the Media Rights Agenda (MRA) Director, Edetaen Ojo, appealed to the Federal Government and security agencies in Nigeria to stop further attacks and reinvestigate past assaults on media practitioners. It was added that a specialized team of prosecutors should be established to enable efficient investigation and prosecution of perpetrators of crimes against journalists and media workers, in fulfillment of its regional and international treaty obligations to see to the safety of journalists. These suggestions are in response to the murder of 10 Nigerian journalists within four years.
UNESCO is currently organizing multiple consultations with local stakeholders to compile the progress and challenges to protect journalists in the last ten years, in order to strategize a more effective implementation of the Plan. The implementation will be built upon the success stories and lessons derived in the specific context of each region, with the consultations informing a set of recommendations which will be presented at the Ministerial Conference in Vienna during which the renewal of political commitment towards the implementation for the UN Plan will take place.
Stakeholders will discuss prosecution of crimes against journalists.
For the commemoration of the 2022 international Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists and the 10-year Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, a conference will be held on November 3-4, 2022, in Vienna, Australia; the conference is convened by the Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with UNESCO and OHCHR. The aim of the conference is to enable a joint multi-stakeholder reflection process on the prevention, protection and prosecution of crimes against journalists.
The first day of the conference, November 3, 2022, will be a gathering of civil society organizations to relate lessons and best practices concerning the implementation of the UN Plan. It will also entail a discussion of strategies efficient in tackling emerging crime-impunity issues against journalists; while the second day, November 4, 2022, will host a Ministerial conference during which the series of consultations organized with local stakeholders will inform a set of recommendations for presentation.
UNESCO urges govts, everyone to join in the global efforts to end impunity.
Impunity brings about more killings and is oftentimes a sign of worsening conflict and the breakdown of law and judicial systems. According to UNESCO observatory of killed journalists, since 1990-2020 there have been 2658 journalists across the globe that have been killed without justice due to impunity for crimes. Consequently, UNESCO affirmed that impunity causes damages to societies by ignoring heinous human rights abuses, corruption and crime. Therefore, governments, civil society, the media, and everyone in the position to uphold the rule of law are urged to join in the global efforts to end impunity.
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UNESCO: Website
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Lots still need to be done concerning protection of journalist across the world because it seems as if they were more vulnerable.
Journalists are doing a great job at what they do. It is unfortunate a lot of them lose their lives and properties through this process. I’m happy UNESCO is doing everything within their power to ensure they are well protected.
Journalists are really bearing the drunts if what could otherwise had been a good job why the senseless killings all over the world in the course of discharging ones dyty, UNESCO should please help against this great impunity towards our journalist a once good and respectable job.
The purpose of the commemoration of this international day is to bring attention to the alarmingly high rate of impunity for crimes committed against journalists around the world, which is intended to encourage people to take action.
its good that In reaction to the report of the UNESCO on the peril faced by journalists around the world due to a lack of accountability for their deaths, UNESCO has organized a public awareness campaign to address the issue.
They should know that the government needs to put together a team of specialized prosecutors in order to meet its obligations under regional and international treaties to protect journalists. This would make it easier to look into attacks on journalists and media workers and bring the people responsible to justice.
It is encouraging to see that the implementation will be based on examples of past accomplishments and important lessons learned from the unique circumstances of each region, with consultations serving to influence a list of recommendations.
UNESCO’s recent efforts to organize various dialogues with local stakeholders to consolidate the progress and challenges to protect journalists over the last decade are promising steps toward a more efficient execution of the Plan.
Is very important that journalist life is protected against impunity because their are really trying and doing their job well
it’s a good thing that The purpose of the conference is to facilitate a joint multi-stakeholder thought process on the prevention of crimes against journalists as well as their protection and prosecution for those crimes.
It is a really good thing the journalist life need to be safe and protected because they are doing a risk and good work and if the job is will protect it will make people become journalist but if is not who won die oo so journalist should be protected
For this reason, it is imperative that all those who can contribute to a more just world—from governments to civil society to the media—join the international movement to combat impunity.
The organized campaign really worth it. Journalists are actually trying and going through alot to reveal some heinous truth to the public and they should be recognized for it.
Impunity causes damages to societies by ignoring heinous human rights abuses, corruption and crime. To pit an end to this, govts, civil society, the media, and everyone should give listening to UNESCO and join in the global efforts to end impunity.
Journalism comes with security risks especially when journalists have to deal with sensitive matters. They need to be protected at all cost. The Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists is a good way to look out for them.
They should know that the government needs specialized prosecutors to safeguard journalists under regional and international conventions. This would make it easier to investigate attacks on journalists and media workers and prosecute the perpetrators.
It’s a wonderful thing that the conference’s goal is to enable a collaborative multi-stakeholder thought process on the prevention of crimes against journalists, as well as their protection and prosecution for those crimes.
The protection of journalist should not be left to UNESCO alone we all needs to work towards their protection too. They are taking a lot of risk just to get the news to us. They’re doing great. They deserve the best.
The well-planned campaign was worthwhile. Journalists should be commended for the hard work and sacrifices they do in order to inform the public of some awful truths in our society. They don’t deserve to die unjustly; nobody does
It is such a great sacrifice by the journalist who are willing to risk their lives just to get the news to us. We need to celebrate and protect them. Over 1,000 of talented journalists killed between 2006 and 2020, worldwide. What a lost.
Journalism has security hazards, especially when covering sensitive topics. Always safeguard them. The Plan of Action on Journalist Safety protects them.