By Carmen Sylva
The 2nd of November is the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists.
We might not understand what that means at first sight. It seems like a complicated thing, but it’s not really. It’s just the day we fight for the crimes that were committed against journalists, just because they were reporting news and bringing information to the public. It’s not just that they were committed, but also because they went unpunished, and when I say “they” I mean the crime committers.
The dangers for the journalists, can escalate from threats to kidnappings, and in worst cases, even murder.
Why is this happening?
In a world that is becoming more and more digitalized, it is easier for fanatic groups and others to spread their advertisement, like in an election, on the internet. Without journalists on site, there would eventually be no other images to go against the advertisement, which is exactly what these fanatic forces and sometimes undemocratically elected regimes want to achieve.
So basically, without journalists to speak the truth, the fanatic forces and sometimes undemocratically elected regimes, would have a higher chance at winning.
What are the facts?
In the past twelve years more than 1000 journalists have been killed for reporting the news and bringing information to the public. In nine out of ten cases the killers go unpunished. Impunity leads to more killings and is often a symptom of worsening conflict and the breakdown of law and judicial systems.
Why do we have this day on November 2nd?
The date was chosen in remembrance of the assassination of two French journalists in Mali on 2nd of November, 2013.
Claude Verlon and Ghislaine Dupont were kidnapped and later, killed after interviewing a local political leader.
What can we do?
To help raise awareness of rising impunity for crimes against journalists, UNESCO is launching a new campaign, #TruthNeverDies, on 2 November - the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists. We all want to send the message that killing a journalist does not silence the truth, instead - and with everybody’s help - it remains in the public spotlight.
The Member States have to do and are doing their utmost to prevent violence against journalists and media workers, to ensure accountability, bring to justice perpetrators of crimes against journalists and media workers, and ensure that victims have access to appropriate remedies. It further calls upon States to promote a safe and enabling environment for journalists to perform their work independently and without undue interference.
A world without journalists is a world without truth.
"When journalists are targeted, societies as a whole pay a price. Without the ability to protect journalists, our ability to remain informed and contribute to decision-making is severely hampered. Without journalists able to do their jobs in safety, we face the prospect of a world of confusion and disinformation." — UN Secretary-General António Guterres
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