In the past decade 700 journalists have been killed for reporting the news and bringing information to the public: on average one death every week. 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 justice systems. UNESCO warns that impunity damages whole societies by covering up serious human rights abuses, corruption, and crime. Governments, civil society, the media, and everyone concerned to uphold the rule of law are being asked to join in the global efforts to end impunity.
The United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution A/RES/68/163 at its 68th session in 2013 which proclaimed 2 November as the ‘International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists’ (IDEI). The Resolution urged Member States to implement definite measures countering the present culture of impunity. The date was chosen in commemoration of the assassination of two French journalists in Mali on 2 November 2013.
This landmark resolution condemns all attacks and violence against journalists and media workers. It also urges Member States to do 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.
In 2014 alone, the UNESCO Director-General condemned the killing of 87 journalists, media workers, and social media producers of public interest journalism. In 2012, the deadliest year for journalists, 123 cases were condemned.
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Facts and Figures
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680 killings of journalists have been condemned by UNESCO’s DG from 2006-2014.
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94% of killed journalists are local and only 6% are foreign correspondents.
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Male journalists account for 94% of journalists killed.
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Less than 6 % of the 680 cases are ever resolved.
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41 % of killed journalists worked in print media.
Media Kit
- Facts and figures on the Safety of Journalists 2013-2014
- Selection of quotes on the issue of impunity of crimes against journalists
- IDEI2015 - Poster: AR - CH - EN - ES - FR - RU
CONTACT INFORMATION
- Sylvie Coudray
Chief of Section
Communication and Information Sector (CI)
Mail: s.coudray(at)unesco.org
Tel: 33-1 45 68 42 12
Fax: 33-1 45 68 55 84
- Ming Kuok Lim
Programme Specialist
Communication and Information Sector (CI)
Mail: mk.lim(at)unesco.org
Tel: 33-1 45 68 35 67
Fax: 33-1 45 68 55 84
UNESCO in action
- Main Event: Commemoration Conference on Ending Impunity for Crimes against Journalists
Inter-American Court of Human Rights
San José, Costa Rica
9-10 October 2015
Commemoration conference as part of the build up towards the International Day against Impunity for Crimes against Journalists. The Conference is jointly organized by UNESCO and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.
Concept Note and Agenda: EN - ES
Background Paper: Prevent and Punish (in English)
Please contact Günther Cyranek of the UNESCO Office in San José for more information. - Event: Global launch of the World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development: Special Digital Focus 2015
UNESCO Headquarters
Paris, France
2 November 2015
The launch will be accompanied with a high-level panel discussion.
Webcast of the event available here. - Event: Stop the killing of journalists! Prevention and justice to end impunity
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Room
Westminster Hall, Houses of Parliament
London, United Kingdom
2 November 2015
The conference will focus on the realities of impunity in the field and the possible responses and courses of action to tackle this. - Event: Ending impunity for crimes against journalists: putting resolutions into practice
United Nations Headquarters
New York, United States
2 November 2015
The panel discussion will focus on the issues of impunity and justice in regards to the safety of journalists and the international normative impetus regarding the issues.
Webcast of the event available here.
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Director-General's Message
United Nations Secretary-General's Message
UN Secretary-General's Message on the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists
Other languages: AR - CH - FR - ES - RU
With our partners
RESOURCES
Background Materials
- Global Concept Note: EN - FR
- Background Paper: Prevent and Punish
- UNGA Resolution A/RES/68/163
- UN Security Council Resolution S/RES/2222 (2015)
- UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity
- The Implementation Strategy of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity 2013-2014
- UNESCO Director-General’s Report on the Safety of Journalists and the Danger of Impunity to the IPDC Council
Executive Summary: EN - FR - AR - CH - ES - RU
Related Links
- UNESCO dedicated website on Safety of Journalists
- CPJ Impunity Index of 2015
- Doha Centre for Media Freedom
- Freedom House
- IAPA's Impunity Project
- IFEX's Campaign
- IFJ's Campaign
- IPI's Special Report on Impunity
- International Media Support (IMS)
- International News Safety Institute (INSI)
- International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF)
- PEN International's Write Against Impunity Campaign
- Press Emblem Campaign (PEC)
- Reporters without Borders (RSF)
- WAN-IFRA's Multimedia Resources
- WAN-IFRA's Campaign
- CFOM website
- Global Investigative Journalism Network