United Nations(UN)’s International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists is annually observed across the globe on 2nd November to condemn all attacks against journalists and media workers.
- The day also aims to end impunity for crimes against journalists and to guarantee freedom of expression and access to information for all citizens.
Background:
i.The United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/68/163 on 18th December 2013 and proclaimed the 2nd November of every year as the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists.
ii.The first-ever International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists was observed on 2nd November 2014.
Why November 2?
The date (November 2) was chosen to commemorate the assassination of Claude Verlon(58) and Ghislaine Dupont (51), French radio journalists of RFI Radio, in Mali on 2 November 2013.
10th anniversary of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists
i.2022 also marks the 10th year anniversary of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists, the first-ever effort within the UN to address the attacks and impunity of crimes against journalists.
ii.The 10-year anniversary is a milestone to Reaffirm, Recommit and Reposition efforts to advance the UN Plan.
Events 2022:
A high-level conference has been organised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO) to commemorate both the 2022 International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists and the 10th anniversary of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.
- The conference with the theme Protecting Media to Protect Democracy will be held on 3rd and 4th November 2022 in Vienna, Austria.
- The conference is convened by the Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with UNESCO and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights(OHCHR).
Key points:
i.Between 2006 and 2020, over 1,200 journalists have been killed for reporting the news and bringing information to the public.
Journalists across the globe are also subjected to several threats like kidnapping, torture and other physical attacks to harassment, particularly in the digital sphere.
ii.UNESCO’s discussion paper titled “The Chilling: Global trends in online violence against women journalists”, 73% of the women journalists surveyed stated that they had been threatened, intimidated and insulted online in connection with their work.
