Journalists around the world face threats to their safety, a situation which has only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. These safety hazards manifest in different forms, from online harassment to threats, economic insecurity, physical attacks and in some cases even murder. At the same time, impunity for attacks against journalists still reins, with only 13% of all killings of journalists registered by UNESCO (in 2006 until 2019) considered resolved.
Academic research into safety of journalists and the issue of impunity is needed to better understand how prevention of attacks, protection of journalists and prosecution of crimes can be more effective.
UNESCO and the University of Namibia (UNAM) are hosting the sixth edition of the Academic Conference on the Safety of Journalists. The Conference is taking place within the framework of the global celebration of World Press Freedom Day (1-3 May), organized in Windhoek by the Government of Namibia and UNESCO in hybrid format (both in presence or virtual participation) and broadcast online.
The conference organizers are calling for academic papers on Safety of Journalists from scholars of different disciplines.
Abstracts (300 words) should be sent to Antonette Kakujaha-Murangi and Theresa Chorbacher by 20 March 2021.