Focus on crimes against media professionals
To end impunity for crimes against journalists, prosecutors from several countries around the world have launched an appeal in collaboration with Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
On the occasion of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, the media union Syndicom and the International Federation of Journalists call on the international community to finally guarantee the safety and protection of media workers with a UN convention.
Such an agreement is needed because to date there is no binding international instrument obliging member states to ensure the safety of media professionals and investigate crimes against them, according to a media release Wednesday.
Prosecutors from eight countries joined Reporters Without Borders (RSF) in criticizing the widespread impunity of perpetrators of crimes against journalists. Lack of security for media professionals also undermines the right of the population to form an opinion and decide freely, they said.
Murder should not be an occupational hazard for media professionals, the media release said. According to RSF, more than 1000 media professionals have been murdered worldwide since 2019. In the current year alone, 50 journalists have already been killed in the course of their work.
Referring to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco), the media release states that almost 90 percent of crimes against journalists go unpunished.
The security situation for media professionals is precarious in many countries around the world. Media professionals in Switzerland are also confronted with increasing pressure and dangers in relation to the legal, political, economic, social and physical framework conditions, writes Syndicom.
Eight prosecutors from Mexico City, Brazil, Slovakia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Serbia, the Republic of Congo, Gambia and the United Kingdom have signed a commitment. To preserve the independence and impartiality of their investigations, they intend to resist pressure of any kind and publicly reject any form of collusion. (SDA)
