This interactive workshop, held within the framework of the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the celebrations of Human Rights Day, will focus on sharing information about national initiatives to prevent, protect against, and prosecute attacks against journalists. Organized by Members of the UNESCO Group of Friends for the Safety of Journalists, the event will be opened by the UNESCO Director-General, Ms. Audrey Azoulay.
It will feature presentations by a panel of experts from Afghanistan, Colombia, Senegal, Serbia and Sweden, and will be followed by an interactive debate with the audience.
The recent Multi-Stakeholder Consultation on Strengthening the Implementation of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity organized in Geneva on 29 June 2017 provided an opportunity to take stock of practices and experiences to foster safety of journalists throughout the world.

With more than 800 journalists killed in the last decade and countless other victims of violence and intimidation, there is a pressing to need to explore new ways to reinforce the safety of journalists on the ground.

The 39th UNESCO General Conference encouraged Member States in Resolution C/61 to “strengthen voluntary implementation of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity at country level, including through capacity building and the establishment of national safety mechanisms to prevent, protect against, and prosecute attacks on journalists and to combat impunity.”

The event on 12 December will focus on sharing information about existing initiatives in this area that have had a concrete impact on improving the safety of journalists and/or addressing impunity of crimes committed against them. Such good practices show that cooperation between stakeholders can bring about positive results.