There needs to be resolute and determined action to end impunity for crimes against journalists

BY PAUL JUNOR

The important work that journalists do all over the world cannot be undervalued and

underestimated. An international non-profit and non-governmental organization, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has been at the forefront of safeguarding the rights of journalists. Four journalists founded it in Montpelier, France in 1985. It is present on five continents, with ten offices worldwide and 150 correspondents assigned to cover stories of international importance.

It was in 1995 that it was recognized as a public interest organization and has participated in consultative capacities with the United Nations, UNESCO, the Council of Europe, and the International Organization of Francophone (OIF). The mission of RSF is to act for: freedom, pluralism, and independence of journalism and defend those who embody these ideals.

As an independent, non-governmental organization (NGO), it is funded primarily by: public subsidies, foundations, the sale of photography books, and public donations.

RSP applies the following principles in its work:

• Mutual respect and dialogue, non-discrimination, a collective work spirit, concern for professional and personal accomplishment, the right to alert, respect for the environment
• Transparency of decision-making processes and accounts, refusal of corruption, and conflicts of interest

The purpose of RSF is to ensure that the following goals are accomplished:

• Defend imprisoned or persecuted journalists or persecuted journalists and media personnel
• Expose mistreatment and torture of journalists
• Provide financial aid for struggling media personnel or companies (as well as for the families of imprisoned journalists)
• Promote journalists’ safety

A promotional video was launched on November 2^nd, 2022, to draw attention to prosecutors from eight countries that pledged to fight impunity for crimes against journalists, and it mentioned certain troubling facts. It aims to raise awareness throughout the world about the need for both national and international justice systems to take action on this issue.

Data was obtained from RSF that: nearly 1,000 journalists were killed since 2010, 90% of crimes against journalists go unpunished, 46 journalists and 4 medical workers have been killed since January 1^st, 2022, and currently there are 508 journalists and 21 media workers in prison.

The prosecutors signed ten undertakings that illustrate details of actions that will be taken and call on other colleagues to join them in this international appeal.

They are:

• Protect the independence and impartiality of our investigations into crimes and offences against journalists
• Take resolute and determined action to end impunity for crimes against journalists
• Systematically evaluate the relationship between the crime and the victim’s journalistic activity
• Ensure that the victims and their families have access to reparation
• Ensure that threatened journalists and their families are protected
• Collaborate with our counterparts in other countries and at the international level
• Protect the confidentiality of journalists’ sources
• Call for respect for judicial independence
• Call for prosecutors to be guaranteed the necessary resources
• Urge colleagues to join these undertakings

Christopher Deloire, secretary-general of RSF states, “Regardless of the country or legal system, prosecutors have a central role to play in bringing the perpetrators of crimes of violence against journalists to justice. Resolute action by prosecutors is an essential condition for establishing a free and safe environment for journalists. With this unprecedented appeal, a major step has been taken. We salute its signatories for their commitment.”

Antoine Bernard, Director for Advocacy and Assistance states, “The actions of prosecutors are often obstructed in these sensitive cases involving major public interest issues. We often discover, as in Mexico, for example, that the link between the murder and the victim’s journalistic activity has never been properly investigated. Prosecutors must be able to investigate without endangering their own lives, those of their families, or their careers.”