#EndImpunity 2017
November 2nd marks the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists. Since its conception in 2013, the day has aimed at condemning impunity in an attempt to end it.
A report last year by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) on figures from 2006-2015, condemned 827 killings of journalists. Of that number, a mere 8% claim to be solved. More shockingly, 95% of the killings were of local journalists, as opposed to foreign correspondents.
The day was originally chosen by the UN General Assembly to commemorate the murders of two French radio journalists, Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon, in Mali on the 2nd of November, 2013. That same year, Resolution A/RES/68/163 was adopted to urge member states to begin administering measures which would counter impunity.
Over 800 journalists have been murdered for simply bringing information to the public and reporting on news. Most cases will go unpunished – why?
The short answer is that impunity uncovers serious violations of law; from the abuse of human rights to government corruption, so ignoring what impunity exposes is easier than pursuing claims of corruption or human rights abuses. Not only is impunity damaging to societies and a symptom of conflict, impunity for crimes against journalists also infringes the right of freedom to seek, receive, and impart information (also known as freedom of expression). As a result, the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists asks that those concerned join in the effort to #EndImpunity.
Make sure to share this article with the hashtags #EndImpunity or #JournoSafe
