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November 02, 2025 – General –
The global campaign for press freedom gained fresh momentum as major organizations issued urgent calls ahead of the annual International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, marking 2 November. Leading the charge, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) released a list of 34 “press-freedom predators” whose actions in 2025 epitomize the erosion of media rights worldwide. These individuals and entities span categories of political, security, legal, economic, and social suppression—from state actors like Vladimir Putin and Mohammed bin Salman, to private-sector manipulators such as Elon Musk. RSF emphasizes that murder, imprisonment, financial strangulation, legal subversion, and digital harassment are increasingly interwoven tactics used to silence journalists.
In parallel, the European External Action Service (EEAS) issued a joint statement by Josep Borrell and Věra Jourová reaffirming the European Union’s commitment to defending journalists at risk. They underscored that journalists and media workers have civilian protection under international humanitarian law, and that deliberate attacks on them must be treated as war crimes. They called on states to ensure investigations are prompt, impartial, and effective.
Meanwhile, the International Press Institute (IPI) urged governments and global leaders to show political will in tackling the impunity crisis for crimes against journalists. According to the IPI, the failure to punish perpetrators emboldens further attacks and undermines the right of societies to access reliable information.
Across all three organizations, the message is consistent: impunity is not inevitable, and the unchecked targeting of journalists threatens not only the individuals involved but the fundamental integrity of free expression and democratic accountability. The converging statements reinforce that safeguarding journalism is not optional—it is a collective obligation across states, media institutions, and civil society.
References
https://rsf.org/en/2025-press-freedom-predators
