Freedom of press is a cornerstone of democratic society. On this International Day November 2nd to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, we can salute all journalists, especially those who risk their safety and lives to provide factual news to citizens. Reporting that is factually correct and accurate should never put anyone’s lives in danger. Between 2006 and 2020, over 1200 journalists have been killed for reporting the news and bringing information to the public. In nine out of ten cases the killers go unpunished, according to the UNESCO observatory of killed journalists. Impunity leads to more killings and is often a symptom of worsening conflict and the breakdown of law and judicial systems.

While killings are the most extreme form of media censorship, journalists are also subjected to countless threats – ranging from kidnapping, torture and other physical attacks to harassment, particularly in the digital sphere. Threats of violence and attacks against journalists in particular create a climate of fear for media professionals, impeding the free circulation of information, opinions and ideas for all citizens. Women journalists are particularly impacted by threats and attacks, notably by those made online. According to UNESCO’s recent discussion paper, The Chilling. Global trends in online violence against women journalists, 73 percent of the women journalists surveyed said they had been threatened, intimidated and insulted online in connection with their work.

Background

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2 November as the ‘International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists’ in General Assembly Resolution. The Resolution urged Member States to implement definite measures countering the present culture of impunity. The date was chosen in commemoration of the assassination of two French journalists in Mali on 2 November 2013.

This landmark resolution condemns all attacks and violence against journalists and media workers. It also urges Member States to do their utmost to prevent violence against journalists and media workers, to ensure accountability, bring to justice perpetrators of crimes against journalists and media workers, and ensure that victims have access to appropriate remedies. It further calls upon States to promote a safe and enabling environment for journalists to perform their work independently and without undue interference.

Remembering the Nobel Peace winners

The Nobel Peace Prize 2021 has been awarded to Philippines’ Maria Ressa and Russia’s Dmitry Muratov for their courageous fight to uphold the freedom of expression. According to a report in IE, the Nobel Committee said that the two recipients were the face of all journalists who stood by the ideals of journalism at a time when democracy as well as freedom of press were increasingly facing adverse conditions.

Maria Ressa of Philippines is an investigative journalist and in 2012, she co-founded Rappler to serve as a digital media platform for investigative journalism. The platform is still headed by Ressa. While giving her the award, the Nobel Committee made note of her focus on the controversial and murderous anti-drug campaign carried out during incumbent President Rodrigo Duterte’s regime. The statement said that the campaign led to so many deaths that it started to resemble a war against the very people of the country. Ressa and Rappler also looked at how social media was being used in the country to spread fake news and to manipulate public discourse as well as a means to harass opponents.

Dmitry Muratov has been defending freedom of speech in Russia for decades, according to the Nobel Committee, even as conditions are becoming increasingly challenging. During the administration of incumbent President Vladimir Putin, the country was ranked 150 in the World Press Freedom Index this year. Muratov used to work for popular daily Komsomolskaya Pravda, but then, after leaving it, he started Novaja Gazeta with about 50 of his colleagues in 1993. He is one of the founders of the newspaper, and has been serving as its editor-in-chief since 1995. Since the newspaper began operating, six of Muratov’s colleagues have been killed, and the team has also faced threats, harassment and violence from the people opposing it. Giving him the award, the Nobel Committee noted that despite facing threats and witnessing killings of his colleagues, Muratov did not abandon the independent policy of the newspaper. Source.

Sources:-

https. http://www.un.org en observances end-impunity-crimesagainst-journalists https. http://www.thehindu.com news international two-journalists-winnobel-peace-prize-for-defending freedom-of-expression article.ece

https. http://www.financialexpress.com lifestyle science nobel-peaceprize-2021-who-are-the-twojournalists-to-be-awarded-forupholding-freedom-ofexpression 2348180 Sedition cases against Journalist