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Joint global commemoration by UNESCO and African Union calls for improved safety of journalists in crises and emergencies
On 6-7 November 2024, UNESCO and the African Union co-hosted the global commemoration of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists with a full day program and a Day of Action under the theme “Safety of Journalists in Crises and Emergencies”.
Held at the Mandela Hall at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, the event gathered over 300 participants from 88 countries, including representatives from governments, intergovernmental organizations, media and civil society.
This year’s commemoration marked the 10th anniversary of the International Day, first held at the European Court of Human Rights in 2014, following the UN General Assembly’s adoption of Resolution 68/163, which proclaimed 2 November as the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists.
These initiatives are a joint call to end impunity. On this International Day, let us remember the importance of their security, independence and protection in carrying out their mission, which is so crucial to peace and social progress.
By co-hosting the commemoration UNESCO and the African Union emphasized the synergies between the United Nations Agenda 2030 and the African Union Agenda 2063. The event also commemorated the 20th anniversary of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in 2004, whose role is pivotal in safeguarding freedom of expression and safety of journalists in Africa.
Key Launches and new initiatives
Throughout the day, participants discussed ways for the international community to enhance the safety of journalists amid ongoing global crises, including conflicts, climate or health emergencies, and economic crises. This included how to circumvent “Zones of Silence” in crisis contexts, and to ensure the continued flow of humanitarian information in crisis contexts through the experiences of the exile media hubs to support journalists.
A major outcome of the commemorations was the launch of the Global Repository of National Safety Mechanisms for Journalists showcasing over 50 national mechanisms and 14 action plans on the safety of journalists around the world. Member States were encouraged to establish such mechanisms and feed into the Global Repository.
working with journalists in emergency situations was launched by the US Ambassador to UNESCO, Courtney Diesel O’Donnell, the project being developed by UNESCO in partnership with the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF), designed to provide psychologists with to offer emergency psychological support to female journalists during crises.
The International Day to End Impunity also saw the release of the on the Safety of Journalists and the danger of Impunity, highlighting global trends in the killings of journalists, particularly noting a 38% increase in the number of journalists killed in the last two years, with 59% killed in conflict situations in 2023.
Global Campaign – There’s a story behind the story
As part of the activities around the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, a global campaign – – was launched in newspapers and on social media. It acknowledged the risks that journalists take to get us the stories that inform daily lives of people across the globe, risks that sometimes turn journalists into stories, particularly when journalists get killed for just doing their work. The campaign was published in over 30 newspapers around the world including Le Monde, El Pais, the Financial Times, Globe and Mail and Folha de S. Paolo to mention a few. Al Jazeera also did their own TV spot on the occasion of the International Day remembering the risks journalists take to cover crises and emergencies.
More than 30 events in 26 countries have been held across the world as part of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists. Commemoration events have been held in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burundi, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Cote D’Ivoire, France, India, Mauritania, Mexico, Morrocco, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Palestine, Republic of Korea, Ghana, United Kingdom, Serbia, Switzerland, Tunisia, Türkiye, Uganda, and Thailand.
African Union commitment
Many international organizations and civil society published their own statements on the international day. As a co-organizer of the global commemoration, the African Union outlined commitments on how to jointly support and mobilize international solidarity for safety of journalists. These include (a) the kick-off of the process towards the establishment of the Group of Friends on Safety of Journalists at the African Union, b) the adoption of the key recommendations on the Protection of Journalists and Access to Information in Situation of Armed Conflicts passed by the African Union Peace and Security Council as part of its 1230th meeting on 2 September 2024, and c) Strengthening pan-African mechanism for monitoring and reporting on safety of journalists.
The global commemoration and other events around the international day were supported through the Multi-Donor Programme on Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists, coordinated at UNESCO for supporting the work of duty bearers and rights holders all over the world.
