High Levels of Impunity for Crimes against Journalists Must End Now, Secretary-General Observance Message Demands, Urging Every Case Be Investigated, Prosecuted

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, observed on 2 November:

Across the world, journalists continue to pay an outrageous price for telling the truth.

Media workers play an essential role in keeping the public informed and holding those in power accountable.  But, they are often harassed, surveilled, sued, physically attacked or imprisoned — and sometimes even tortured or killed — simply for doing their jobs.

Over the past year, at least 34 journalists paid the ultimate price.  Six of every seven such killings go unpunished.  In conflict settings, the rate of impunity is close to 100 per cent.  This is a heinous affront to the victims and their loved ones, as well as all of us who depend on journalists to remain informed and engaged.

This scandal must end.  Nothing should impede journalists’ ability to do their work, which is fundamental to human rights, democracy and the rule of law.  That includes investigating every case, prosecuting every perpetrator and putting a stop to online attacks.

We know progress is possible.  Since the UN Plan of Action on Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity was launched in 2012, the impunity rate for these crimes in countries not experiencing armed conflict has come down from 94 per cent to 77 per cent.  But, we must do more.

On this International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, we demand justice.  When journalists are targeted and their reporting is extinguished, it makes victims of us all.