The free and independent press protects the rights of citizens and ensures our communities are well informed. However, in too many countries, journalists face the threat of violence or imprisonment for their reporting. So, this problem not only affects journalists, but also the rights of the citizens. Ending impunity for crimes against journalists is one of the most pressing issues to guarantee freedom of expression and access to information for all citizens. At the moment, according to Reporters Without Borders, so far this year, 35 journalists and 4 media assistants were killed around the world. And that is not all, because 321 journalists, 83 citizens journalists and 13 media assistants are imprisoned at this time.
At the moment, the European Union is still considered one of the safest places for journalists, but the number of threats and attacks against them have been on the rise in the past years with the most tragic cases being assassinations of journalists. Digital and online safety has become a major concern for journalists due to online incitement to hatred, threats of physical violence. In fact, women journalists are particularly impacted by threats and attacks because according to Unesco´s recent discussion paper, 73% of the women journalists surveyed said they had been threatened, intimidated and insulted online in connection with their work.
In 2021 campaign highlights the psychological trauma experienced by journalists, who are victims of threats, and raises awareness of the importance to investigate and prosecute these threats in order to end the impunity for those who attack media professionals. And also, this year has coincided that the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded by journalists who were praised by the Nobel committee for their efforts to safeguard the freedom of expression, “which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace”.
In these times still there are threats of violence and attacks against journalists which are not properly investigated. This impunity emboldens the perpetrators of the crimes and at the same time has a chilling effect on society, including journalists themselves. So, this is the day to be concerned, that impunity damages whole societies by covering up serious human rights abuses, corruption, and crime.