International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists
“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.”[i]
The world observes today, 2nd November, the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists[ii], adopted by the UN General Assembly in its resolution[iii] of 18th December 2013, to address the phenomenon of a culture of impunity[iv] for crimes against journalists, which the UNGA considered it to “constitute one of the main challenges to strengthening the protection of journalists”.
In its resolution, the UN General Assembly noted that journalists and media professionals in areas of armed conflict shall be considered as civilians and shall be respected and protected under international humanitarian law and relevant conventions and treaties obligating the protection of civilians.
In the past twelve years more than 1,000 journalists have been killed for reporting the news and bringing information to the public. In nine out of ten cases the killers go unpunished[v]. Impunity leads to more killings and is often a symptom of worsening conflict and the breakdown of law and judicial systems. UNESCO expressed its concern that “impunity damages whole societies by covering up serious human rights abuses, corruption, and crime.”
In Libya, journalists and media workers have been suffering for decades from the lack of an enabling environment to work independently and with no interference by the authorities.
After February 2011, Article 14 of the Interim Constitutional Declaration guaranteed freedom of expression and press freedom and repealed laws restricting press freedom. During the early years of the February Revolution, Libya witnessed a remarkable development in press freedom and freedom of expression.
Journalists in Libya are subjected to many violations[vi]. Last January, an Associated Press correspondent Mohammed bin Khalifa[vii] while covering clashes between militias South of Tripoli, and last May a crew of a Libyan TV channel[viii], “Libya al-Ahrar”, were detained while covering the war South of Tripoli. Many journalists were forced to either leave the profession or leave Libya in search of a safer place, because of threats to their lives and freedoms.
Human Rights Solidarity (HRS) calls for the implementation of the recommendations of the report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on “the Safety of Journalists”[ix]. The report described many good practices to promote the protection of journalists, practices which were identified thorough review of State practices submitted by, which included many good practices in the field of the safety of journalists, a summary of a comprehensive review of State practices in this area, conducted by OHCHR in cooperation with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. Applying these practices will help create a safe environment for journalists to work. Unequivocal political commitment is the cornerstone of the protection of journalists, which will result in a package of laws and legislative measures that protect freedom of expression, ensure accountability for attacks on journalists, end impunity, and train and raise awareness among law enforcement officials and citizens at large.
HRS also supports the UN’s recommendations on the role of free media in rooting out racism and xenophobia and urges journalists to uphold the highest values of “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.”[i] The world observes today, 2nd November, the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists[ii], adopted by the UN General Assembly in its resolution[iii] of 18th December 2013, to address the phenomenon of a culture of impunity[iv] for crimes against journalists, which the UNGA considered it to “constitute one of the main challenges to strengthening the protection of journalists”.
In its resolution, the UN General Assembly noted that journalists and media professionals in areas of armed conflict shall be considered as civilians and shall be respected and protected under international humanitarian law and relevant conventions and treaties obligating the protection of civilians.
In the past twelve years more than 1,000 journalists have been killed for reporting the news and bringing information to the public. In nine out of ten cases the killers go unpunished[v]. Impunity leads to more killings and is often a symptom of worsening conflict and the breakdown of law and judicial systems. UNESCO expressed its concern that “impunity damages whole societies by covering up serious human rights abuses, corruption, and crime.”
In Libya, journalists and media workers have been suffering for decades from the lack of an enabling environment to work independently and with no interference by the authorities.
After February 2011, Article 14 of the Interim Constitutional Declaration guaranteed freedom of expression and press freedom and repealed laws restricting press freedom. During the early years of the February Revolution, Libya witnessed a remarkable development in press freedom and freedom of expression.
Journalists in Libya are subjected to many violations[vi]. Last January, an Associated Press correspondent Mohammed bin Khalifa[vii] while covering clashes between militias South of Tripoli, and last May a crew of a Libyan TV channel[viii], “Libya al-Ahrar”, were detained while covering the war South of Tripoli. Many journalists were forced to either leave the profession or leave Libya in search of a safer place, because of threats to their lives and freedoms.
Human Rights Solidarity (HRS) calls for the implementation of the recommendations of the report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on “the Safety of Journalists”[ix]. The report described many good practices to promote the protection of journalists, practices which were identified thorough review of State practices submitted by, which included many good practices in the field of the safety of journalists, a summary of a comprehensive review of State practices in this area, conducted by OHCHR in cooperation with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. Applying these practices will help create a safe environment for journalists to work. Unequivocal political commitment is the cornerstone of the protection of journalists, which will result in a package of laws and legislative measures that protect freedom of expression, ensure accountability for attacks on journalists, end impunity, and train and raise awareness among law enforcement officials and citizens at large.
HRS also supports the UN’s recommendations on the role of free media in rooting out racism and xenophobia and urges journalists to uphold the highest values of their profession and combat hate speech.
Human Rights Solidarity
Tripoli – Libya
Endnote:
[i] United Nations: “Secretary-General’s Message for the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, 2019”.
[ii] United Nations: “International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists 2 November”.
[iii] United Nations General Assembly, Resolution 163/68: “The safety of journalists and the issue of impunity”, 18th December 2013.
[iv] When attacks on journalists remain unpunished, a very negative message is sent that reporting the “embarrassing truth” or “unwanted opinions” will get ordinary people in trouble. Furthermore, society loses confidence in its own judiciary system which is meant to protect everyone from attacks on their rights. Perpetrators of crimes against journalists are thus emboldened when they realize they can attack their targets without ever facing justice.
[v] United Nations: “International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists”.
[vi] The 2018/2019 Report (available in Arabic) published by the Libyan Center for Freedom of Press (LCFP) documented 83 attacks on journalists and media outlets in Libya during the report’s period, and 338 attacks in the past 5 years.
[vii] Reporters without Borders: “AP photographer killed while covering clashes between militias in Tripoli”, 22nd January 2019.
[viii] Libyan Press Agency: “Journalists in Tripoli demand the release of al-Qaraj and al-Shaibani”, 6th May 2019. Contacts with journalist Mohamed al-Qaraj, correspondent for the “Libya al-Ahrar” TV channel and fellow cameraman Mohammed al-Shaibani, were lost on Thursday, May 2nd, 2019, according to the channel’s statement. The following day a Facebook page, called “9th Brigade”, a militia affiliated with retired Maj Gen Haftar, posted that “the crew of Libya al-Ahrar channel is in the custody of the Ninth Brigade and the Commander of al-Karama operations room in the Western Region.” (link). Three weeks later, the journalists were released on May 24th, 2019.
[ix] Human Rights Council: “The safety of journalists”, Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights 1st July 2013.their profession and combat hate speech.
Endnote:
[i] United Nations: “Secretary-General’s Message for the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, 2019”.
[ii] United Nations: “International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists 2 November”.
[iii] United Nations General Assembly, Resolution 163/68: “The safety of journalists and the issue of impunity”, 18th December 2013.
[iv] When attacks on journalists remain unpunished, a very negative message is sent that reporting the “embarrassing truth” or “unwanted opinions” will get ordinary people in trouble. Furthermore, society loses confidence in its own judiciary system which is meant to protect everyone from attacks on their rights. Perpetrators of crimes against journalists are thus emboldened when they realize they can attack their targets without ever facing justice.
[v] United Nations: “International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists”.
[vi] The 2018/2019 Report (available in Arabic) published by the Libyan Center for Freedom of Press (LCFP) documented 83 attacks on journalists and media outlets in Libya during the report’s period, and 338 attacks in the past 5 years.
[vii] Reporters without Borders: “AP photographer killed while covering clashes between militias in Tripoli”, 22nd January 2019.
[viii] Libyan Press Agency: “Journalists in Tripoli demand the release of al-Qaraj and al-Shaibani”, 6th May 2019. Contacts with journalist Mohamed al-Qaraj, correspondent for the “Libya al-Ahrar” TV channel and fellow cameraman Mohammed al-Shaibani, were lost on Thursday, May 2nd, 2019, according to the channel’s statement. The following day a Facebook page, called “9th Brigade”, a militia affiliated with retired Maj Gen Haftar, posted that “the crew of Libya al-Ahrar channel is in the custody of the Ninth Brigade and the Commander of al-Karama operations room in the Western Region.” (link). Three weeks later, the journalists were released on May 24th, 2019.
[ix] Human Rights Council: “The safety of journalists”, Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights 1st July 2013.
