Some journalists stop at nothing to report the truth. Unfortunately, reporting facts cost some journalists their lives. In the past 12 years, over 1,000 journalists have died for seeking the truth and relaying it to the public. Other journalists suffered torture, were severely injured, imprisoned, and harassed. Women reporters suffered sexual assault. Unfortunately, the punishment for people who commit crimes of violence against journalists is too lenient.
In some cases, the offenders receive no punishment at all. Only one in ten cases committed against journalists in the last ten years has led to a conviction. This impunity leads to corruption and the covering up of human rights abuses.
The UN condemns all attacks and violence against journalists. Additionally, the UN urges the Member States to do everything they can to prevent violence against journalists and media workers. Perpetrators need to be held accountable, and justice must prevail.
In 2011, the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX) declared November 23rd as the International Day to End Impunity. The date marked the anniversary of the 2009 Ampatuan massacre, in which 32 journalists and media workers were murdered. After extensive lobbying by IFEX and other civil society defenders of freedom of expression, the UN passed a resolution in December 2013. The resolution marked November 2nd as the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists. The date chosen marked the death of two French journalists.
The main event to celebrate the 2022 International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists is a High-Level Multi-Stakeholder Conference on the Safety of Journalists with the theme “Protecting Media to Protect Democracy” in Vienna, Austria. This year’s slogan is Knowing the “Truth is Protecting the Truth”.
Source: https://nationaldaycalendar.com
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