Basic Texts Related to the Safety of Journalists

A non-exhaustive list of texts, declarations, decisions, resolutions and conventions related to human rights and the safety of journalists.

1. International Human Rights Laws

• UN - The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
• OHCHR - The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)  (1976)
• General comment 34 on the article 19 of ICCPR (2011)
• UN Commission on Human Rights - Human Rights Resolution 2005/81: Impunity (2005)
• UN Security Council - Resolution S/RES/1738 (2006)
• Human Rights Council Resolution (A/HRC/RES/21/12) on the Safety of Journalists (2012)
• UN General Assembly Resolution (A/RES/68/163) on Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2013)
• Human Rights Council Resolution (A/HRC/RES/27/5) on the Safety of Journalists (2014)
• UN General Assembly Resolution (A/RES/69/185) on Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2014)
• UN Security Council Resolution S/RES/2222 (2015)
• UN General Assembly Resolution (A/RES/70/162) on Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2015)
• Human Rights Council Resolution (A/HRC/RES/33/2) on the Safety of Journalists (2016)
• UN General Assembly Resolution (A/C.3/72/L.35/Rev.1) on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity  (2017) 
• Human Rights Council Resolution (A/HRC/RES/39/6) on the Safety of Journalists (2018) 
• UN General Assembly Resolution (A/RES/74/157) on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2019)
• UN General Assembly Resolution (A/RES/75/101) "Information in the Service of Humanity" (2020)
• Human Rights Council Resolution (A/HRC/45/L.42/Rev.1) on the Safety of Journalists (2020)

• Human Rights Council Resolution (

  A/HRC/47/L.22) on The promotion, protection and enjoyment of human rights on the Internet (2021)

2. UNESCO Resolutions, Decisions, and Declarations on Safety of Journalists

General Conference Resolutions

• UNESCO Resolution 29 on the Condemnation of Violence against Journalists adopted during the 29th General Conference (1997)
• UNESCO Resolution 53 adopted during the 36th General Conference (2011)
• UNESCO Resolution 39 on Strengthening UNESCO leadership in the implementation of the UN Plan of Action adopted during the 39th General Conference (2017)

• UNESCO Resolution 52 on Major Programme V - Communication and Information (2019)

Executive Board Decisions

• UNESCO 196th Executive Board Decision (196 EX/31) on Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2015)
• UNESCO 201st Executive Board Decision (201 EX/Decision 5.I.I) on Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2017)
• UNESCO 202nd Executive Board Decision (202 EX/Decision 5 I.K) on Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2017)
• UNESCO 206th Executive Board Decision (206 EX/SR.7) on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2019)

• UNESCO 2011th Executive Board Decision (211 EX/5.I.G) on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2021)

IPDC Intergovernmental Council Decisions

• IPDC Decision on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2008)
• IPDC Decision on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2010)
• IPDC Decision on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2012)
• IPDC Decision on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2014)
• IPDC Decision on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2016)
• IPDC Decision on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2018)  
• IPDC Decision on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2020)

World Press Freedom Day Declarations

• UNESCO's Belgrade Declaration on Media in Conflicts Areas in Countries in Transition (2004)
• UNESCO's Medellin Declaration Securing the Safety of Journalists and Combatting Impunity (2007)
• UNESCO's Carthage Declaration on press freedom and the Safety of Journalists (2012)
• UNESCO’s San José Declaration on Securing Freedom of Expression in all Media (2013) 
• UNESCO’s Paris Declaration on Media Freedom for a Better Future (2014) 
• UNESCO’s Riga Declaration on Better Reporting, Gender Equality and Media Safety in the Digital Age (2015) 
• Finlandia Declaration on Access to Information and Fundamental Freedoms (2016)
• Jakarta Declaration “Critical Minds for Critical Times: Media’s role in advancing peaceful, just and inclusive societies” (2017)
• Accra Declaration “Keeping Power in Check: Media, Justice and the Rule of Law” (2018)
• Addis Ababa Declaration “Journalism and Elections in Times of Disinformation” (2019)

• Windhoek +30 Declaration (2021)

Joint Declarations by the UN Special Rapporteurs for Freedom of Expression

• UN Special Rapporteurs for Freedom of Expression Joint Declaration on Promoting Freedom of Expression (1999)

• UN Special Rapporteurs for Freedom of Expression Joint Declaration about Censorship by Killing and Defamation (2000) 

• UN Special Rapporteurs for Freedom of Expression Joint Declaration on International Mechanisms for Promoting Freedom of Expression (2002) 

• UN Special Rapporteurs for Freedom of Expression Joint Declaration (2005) 

• UN Special Rapporteurs for Freedom of Expression Joint Declaration on International Mechanisms for Promoting Freedom of Expression (2006) 

• UN Special Rapporteurs for Freedom of Expression Joint Declaration on the Challenges to Freedom of Expression in the Next Decade (2010) 

• UN Special Rapporteurs for Freedom of Expression Joint Declaration on Crimes against Freedom of Expression  (2012-2) 

• UN Special Rapporteurs for Freedom of Expression Joint Declaration on Violence against Journalists and Media Workers in the Context of Protests  (2013-3) 

• UN Special Rapporteurs for Freedom of Expression Joint Press Release on Stronger Protection of Journalists Covering Conflicts (2014-2) 

• UN Special Rapporteurs for Freedom of Expression Joint Declaration on Freedom of Expression and Responses to Conflict Situations (2015) 

• UN Special Rapporteurs for Freedom of Expression Joint Declaration on Challenges to Freedom of Expression in the Next Decade (2019) 

• UN Special Rapporteurs for Freedom of Expression Joint Declaration on Freedom of Expression and Elections in the Digital Age (2020)

3. Universal Periodic Review Process (including UNESCO's Contribution)

The Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is the UN reporting mechanism on human rights in all UN Member States, to which UNESCO contributes on the fundamental human right freedom of expression, freedom of information, and safety of journalists, amongst others. It convenes three times a year and provides the opportunity for each Member State to declare what actions they have taken to improve human rights within their borders and to fulfill their obligations.

13th Session (2012) | 14th Session (2012) | 15th Session (2013) | 16th Session (2013) | 17th Session (2013) 

18th Session (2014) | 19th Session (2014) | 20th Session (2014) | 21st Session (2015) | 22nd Session (2015)

23rd Session (2015) | 24th Session (2016) | 25th Session (2016) | 26th Session (2016) | 27th Session (2017) 

28th Session (2017) | 29th Session (2018) | 30th Session (2018) | 31st Session (2018) | 32nd Session (2019)

33rd Session (2019) | 34th Session (2019) | 35th Session (2020) | 36th Session (2020) | 37th Session (2021) 

38th Session (2021)

4. Regional Instruments of Human Rights Laws

• African Charter on Human and People's Rights for Africa (1981, in force since 1986)
• American Convention on Human Rights (1969, in force since 1978)
• European Convention on Human Rights for Europe (1950, in force since 1953)
• Arab Charter on Human Rights (2004, in force since 2008)

5. Humanitarian Laws

• The Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their additional protocols

6. Other Measures Specific to the Safety of Journalists

• ICRC 31st International Conference's Resolution 2 on 4-Year Action Plan (2011)
• World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)+10 Final Statement (2013) and the WSIS+10 High Level Outcome Documents (2014)
• Council of Europe: Declaration by the Committee of Ministers on the protection and promotion of investigative journalism (2007)
• Council of Europe: Declaration of the Committee of Ministers on the protection of journalism and safety of journalists and other media actors (2014)
• EU Human Rights Guidelines on Freedom of Expression Online and Offline (2014)
• Council of Europe: Recommendation CM/Rec(2016)4 of the Committee of Ministers to Member States on the protection of journalism and safety of journalists and other media actors (2016)
• OSCE Ministerial Council Decision MC.DEC.3/18 on the Safety of Journalists  (2018)
• Global Conference for Media Freedom: Global Pledge on Media Freedom (2019) 
• Information and Democracy Partnership, initiated by the NGO Reporters without Borders (2019)

• IWMF Coalition Against Online Violence (2021)

7. Intergovernmental Statements and Declarations

• The Hague Commitment to increase the Safety of Journalists (2020)

• Groups of Friends on the Safety of Journalists Joint Statement on Press Freedom (2021)

8. Statements by Non-Governmental Organizations and Civil Society

• The London Statement by members of the global media community on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2012)
• Recommendations of the Warsaw International Conference on the Safety of Journalists (2013)
• Global Safety Principles and Practices, a set of international safety standards for freelance reporters on dangerous assignments, signed by a coalition of major news companies and journalism organizations (2015)
• International Declaration on the Protection of Journalists, by the International Press Institute, International News Safety Institute, Africa Media Iniative, and the Al Jazeera Media Network (2016)
• Joint Declaration on Media Independence and Diversity in The Digital Age” (2018)

9. National Statements and Declarations resulted of National Consultations on the UN Plan of Action

• Islamabad Declaration on Safety of Journalists and Impunity Issues (2012)
• Philippine Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists (2019)

10. Key International Court Decisions 

• Carvajal Carvajal v. Columbia (2018). Inter-American Court of Human Rights 
• Herzog et al. v Brazil (2018). Inter-American Court of Human Rights 

• Jineth Bedoya and Other v Colombia (2021) Inter-American Court of Human Rights