A Decade of Defiance: Media Freedom Coalition Demands Action on Journalist Impunity

November 1, 2024 – General –

Marking the 10th anniversary of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, the Media Freedom Coalition (MFC) issued a powerful joint statement reaffirming its global commitment to press freedom and justice. The coalition, comprising over 50 countries and numerous civil society organizations, warned that impunity for attacks on journalists remains a critical threat to democracy and human rights.

The MFC’s statement called on all states to prioritize accountability for crimes against journalists and to fully implement the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists. The plan emphasizes a comprehensive approach through prevention, protection, and prosecution. MFC members urged countries to ensure that crimes against journalists are thoroughly investigated and prosecuted, regardless of where they occur, and to refrain from stigmatizing or harassing media workers.

In the past decade, more than 1,700 journalists have been killed worldwide, and nearly 90% of those cases remain unsolved. The MFC highlighted that this culture of impunity enables further violence and creates a chilling effect on journalism, silencing voices critical to public accountability. The coalition underscored that protecting journalists is not only about defending individuals but preserving the public’s right to information.

This year’s global observance, held under the theme “Safety of Journalists in Crises and Emergencies,” included a major event in Addis Ababa co-organized by UNESCO and the African Union. The conference addressed the unique risks faced by journalists reporting from war zones, natural disasters, and repressive regimes, where censorship often escalates to deadly violence.

The MFC also stressed the importance of supporting independent media in fragile contexts and warned against using national security as a pretext to suppress press freedom. Their statement urged governments to strengthen legal protections, offer emergency support to at-risk journalists, and integrate press freedom into foreign policy.

As the coalition declared, “Silence is complicity.” On this day of remembrance, the MFC reaffirmed that words must translate into action. Without justice, journalism cannot be safe, and without journalism, there is no freedom. The international community must rise to meet this challenge with urgency and resolve.

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