UN and UNESCO Demand Justice for Journalists on International Day to End Impunity

November 02, 2024 – General-

On November 2, 2024, the United Nations and UNESCO marked the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists with renewed urgency, calling on world governments to confront the staggering rate of violence against journalists and the near-total lack of accountability that follows. Since 2006, over 1,700 journalists have been killed while doing their jobs, and nearly 9 out of 10 of those killings remain unsolved.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a powerful message, emphasizing that when journalists are attacked, societies as a whole suffer. “Without accountability, the cycle of violence and fear continues,” he said, urging states to implement stronger protections, pursue investigations, and support the families of victims. Guterres called for full adherence to the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists, which centers on prevention, protection, and prosecution.

UNESCO, which leads global coordination on journalist safety, launched a campaign this year focused on “Safety of Journalists in Crises and Emergencies.” In partnership with the African Union, a global commemoration event was held in Addis Ababa to spotlight the ongoing dangers media workers face in conflict zones, authoritarian states, and humanitarian crises.

UNESCO’s 2024 report found that while the global impunity rate for journalist killings has slightly decreased to 85%, accountability remains elusive. The report also highlighted new threats: an alarming rise in the use of spurious financial and legal charges to silence reporters, particularly those covering corruption, the environment, and armed conflict.

The observance stressed the disproportionate risks women journalists face, including gender-based violence and online harassment, which often go unaddressed. UNESCO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting journalists through legal reform, monitoring systems like the Observatory of Killed Journalists, and global awareness campaigns.

The day is not only a memorial—it is a call to action. UNESCO and the UN are urging every nation to break the cycle of impunity. When journalists are killed and no one is held accountable, it sends a dangerous message that truth can be buried with violence. Justice for journalists is justice for all.

Reference – 

https://www.unesco.org/en/days/end-impunity

https://www.un.org/en/observances/end-impunity-crimes-against-journalists/messages