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By Joyce Mukucha
The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) and the United Nations (UN) have yesterday joined the rest of the global community in marking the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists.
Ending impunity for crimes against journalists is one of the most pressing issues to guarantee freedom of expression and access to information for all citizens.
ZUJ highlighted that the celebration comes at a time members of the fourth estate continue to encounter challenges when executing their duties pointing out that the challenges were being exacerbated by the global Covid-19 pandemic.
“The commemoration comes against continued operating challenges faced by journalists in the country, especially in this unprecedented Covid-19 predicament.
“Journalists covering the coronavirus not only battled with the risk of contagion, they also faced numerous obstruction such as restricted movements, arrests, beatings and intimidation. For example, since the onset of Covid-19 in Zimbabwe, at least 25 Press freedom violations, including 10 arbitrary arrests have taken place in Zimbabwe,” ZUJ said.
Referring to part of the findings of the September 2021 survey commissioned by the European Union and UNESCO on Challenges Encountered by Zimbabwean Media in providing Effective Coverage of National Disasters and Public Health Emergencies, cite harassment “especially junior police officers”, as one of the enduring threats to free journalistic enterprise.
“Such police officers were were reported to be the most problematic in ad far as they appear reluctant to acknowledge that journalists are essential service providers. Respondents complain of being delayed at roadblocks while on assignment,” noted the survey.
“ZUJ find this unacceptable, not least that journalists are officially designated as key workers.”
The organisation pointed out that it was bound to agree with suggestions by the survey respondents that part of the solution to end impunity for crimes against journalists may lie with the enactment of laws with stiff penalties to punish police officers and other members of the public who harrass journalists.
In his message for the day, the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guteress encouraged all Member States to unite and support various journalists scattered around the world.
“I urge Member States and the international community to stand in solidarity with journalists around the world today and every day, and to demonstrate the political will needed to investigate and prosecute crimes against journalists and media workers with the full force of the law.”
Guteress stressed that countering threats of violence and crimes against journalists to protect freedom of expression for all was imperative.
According to UN, between 2006 and 2020, over 1,200 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,” UN said.
The UN also pointed out that 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.
According to UN, 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.”
In many cases, UN highlighted, threats of violence and attacks against journalists are not properly investigated.
“This impunity emboldens the perpetrators of the crimes and at the same time has a chilling effect on society, including journalists themselves.
“UNESCO is concerned that impunity damages whole societies by covering up serious human rights abuses, corruption, and crime. Read and share the stories of killed journalists #TruthNeverDies.”
On the other hand, justice systems that vigorously investigate all threats of violence against journalists send a powerful message that society will not tolerate attacks against journalists and against the right to freedom of expression for all.
The 2021 International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists highlights the instrumental role of prosecutorial services, in investigating and prosecuting not only killings but also threats of violence against journalists.
This year’s campaign highlights the psychological trauma experienced by journalists, who are victims of threats, and raises awareness of the importance to investigate and prosecute these threats in order to end the impunity for those who attack media professionals.
Commemorations in 2021 will also pave the way for the 10-year anniversary of the UN Plan of Action on Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, to be marked in 2022.
The main event to celebrate the 2021 International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists will be a hybrid format high-level roundtable discussion, organized by Ossigeno per l’informazione and supported by UNESCO, today ,(3 November 2021) at the Syracuse International Institute for Criminal Justice and Human Rights in Syracuse, Italy.
The event will provide a platform for dialogue among prosecutors and journalists on prevention and protection measures to address the safety of journalists, and it will highlight the instrumental role of prosecutorial services in investigating and prosecuting not only killings, but also threats of violence against journalists.
The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2 November as the ‘International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists’ in General Assembly Resolution A/RES/68/163.
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.
The day 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.
According to UN, killings of journalists have decreased by 20 percent in 2016-2020 compared to the previous 5-year period (2011-2015).
Data collected in 2021 shows the impunity rate continuing at 87%, which represents a similarly high rate to previous years.
Out of 139 journalists killed in 2011-2020 in the four countries in Latin America and the Caribbean with the highest numbers of killings, 41% of them had received threats prior to their assassination, according to a recent study developed by Reporters Without Borders with the support from UNESCO.
The majority of killed journalists are killed in their country of nationality. Among the 400 journalists killed from 2016 to 2020, 22 (6%) were foreigners.