"When journalists are targeted, societies as a whole pay a price. Without the ability to protect journalists, our ability to remain informed and contribute to decision-making is severely hampered. Without journalists able to do their jobs in safety, we face the prospect of a world of confusion and disinformation." — UN Secretary-General António Guterres
The UN marks the End Impunity of Crimes Against Journalists Day on the 2nd of November every year since 2013, when two French journalists were assassinated in Mali.
More than 1200 journalist have been killed in the past 14 years alone.
That is about one hundred a year. Not always in situations of civil conflict or war but simply for covering their communities, seeking the truth, establishing facts, and trying to expose wrongdoing.
Impunity leads to continued human rights violations, and the covering up of serious crimes and corruption, and it reflects a weak national justice system.
Why does the UN marks international days?
To build awareness among citizens on issues that affect them and the communities around them worldwide.
Take domestic violence for instance. It affects rich and poor, women and men, in all parts of the globe. Or crimes against journalists. The circumstances maybe different in each case but the the awareness of it happening at a global scale generates political will to change laws.
International days also help mobilize communities, lawmakers, and politicians to contribute to the drafting of national legislations based on international normative frameworks that protect the rights of citizens from human rights abuses.
To Know More:
Source: UNESCO
It is in recognition of the far-reaching consequences of impunity, especially of crimes against journalists, that the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution A/RES/68/163 at its 68th session in 2013 which proclaimed 2 November as the ‘International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists’ (IDEI).
The Resolution urged Member States to implement definite measures countering the present culture of impunity.
"Journalists are essential in preserving the fundamental right to freedom of expression, guaranteed by Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. When journalists are attacked with impunity, there is a breakdown in security and judicial systems for all.” — Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO