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.
The focus on impunity of this resolution stems from the worrying situation that over the past decade, more than 700 journalists have been killed for bringing news and information to the public.
In 2012 alone, the UNESCO Director-General condemned the killing of 123 journalists, media workers, and social media producers of public interest journalism. In 2013, the figure decreased slightly to 91, but still represented the second deadliest year for journalists.
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© Gabriel Orihuela, Elizabeth Ortiz, José Juan González Morales/UNESCO
Facts and Figures
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593 killings of journalists have been condemned by UNESCO’s DG from 2006-2013.
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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 593 cases are ever resolved.
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41 % of killed journalists worked in print media.
UNESCO in action
Events
- Seminar and Inter-regional Dialogue on the protection of journalists: Towards an effective framework of protection for the work of journalists and an end to impunity
3 November 2014, the European Courts of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France.
Co-organized by UNESCO, Council of Europe, Centre for Freedom of the Media (CFOM), University of Sheffield, and European Lawyer’s Union. - High-Level Panel Discussion on the Issue of Impunity: "Ending Impunity: Upholding the Rule of Law"
3 November 2014, United Nations Headquarters, New York, USA.
Co-organized by UNESCO and the Permanent Missions to the UN of Argentina, Austria, Costa Rica, France, Greece, and Tunisia. - Inauguration National Monitoring Committee on the Safety of Journalists
3 November 2014, Reitz Continental Hotel, Abuja, Nigeria.
Co-organized by UNESCO and the Nigeria Union of Journalists. - Forum on 'The State of Journalists' Safety in Ghana'
3 November 2014, Civil Service Conference Room (adjacent to the Ministry of Communications), Accra, Ghana.
Co-organized by UNESCO, the Ghana National Commission for UNESCO, and the UN Information Centre in Accra, Ghana.
- Regional Seminar Supporting Dialogue to Improve the Safety of Journalists in Tunisia
3-4 November 2014, Majestic Hotel, Tunis, Tunisia.
Co-organized by UNESCO, OHCHR, the Embassy of France in Tunisia and Reporters Without Borders.
- 3rd UN Inter-Agency Meeting on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity
4 November 2014, the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France.
Co-hosted by UNESCO, Council of Europe and OHCHR.
- Presentation of the 4th Director-General’s Report on the Safety of Journalists and the Danger of Impunity to the IPDC Council
20-21 November 2014, Room X, UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France.
Director-General's Message
Working with Partners
RESOURCES
Background Materials
- Concept Note
- UNGA Resolution A/RES/68/163
- 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 - Opening Remarks on the Seminar and Inter-regional Dialogue on the Protection of Journalists (3 November 2014) by Mr Guy Berger, Director, Freedom of Expression and Media Development, UNESCO
Related Links
- UNESCO Safety of Journalists
- CPJ Impunity Index of 2014
- 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
Media Coverage
- 04.11.2014 - UN marks ‘deadliest decade’ for journalist deaths (BBC Academy)
- 03.11.2014 - Op-Ed UNESCO Director-General in US newspaper 'Miami Herald'
- 03.11.2014 - 'Stand up for justice', UN urges on first Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists (UN News)
- 03.11.2014 - Infographic from Mexico wins contest to raise awareness on ending impunity
- 03.11.2014 - End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists (Erik Bjerager, President World Editors Forum)
- 02.11.2014 - UN expert calls for accountability "in the midst of a very serious crisis" of attacks on journalists (UN OHCHR)
- 30.10.2014 - First ever Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists held on 2 November
- 28.10.2014 - Ending Impunity (The Stream - Al Jazeera)
- 27.08.2014 - Impunity issue is relevant to the Post-2015 Development Agenda
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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