Journalists’ safety and human rights – Aminata.com News in Guinea and around the world

2023-05-13 19:09:58

LMedia freedom is essential to ensure democratic, free and participatory societies. Journalists and the media are essential to ensure the transparency and accountability of public and governmental authorities. Yet media freedom and the safety of journalists are under threat around the world.

In recent years, OHCHR has witnessed an increase in the scale and number of attacks on the physical safety of journalists and media workers, as well as an increase in incidents affecting their ability to exercise their freedom of expression, including threats of lawsuits, arrests, imprisonment, refusal to provide them with access to information and failure to investigate and prosecute the crimes committed against them.

OHCHR’s work on the safety of journalists

OHCHR is responsible for promoting and protecting the effective enjoyment of all human rights by all, including the right to freedom of expression, including freedom of the media, as well as other rights of journalists and media professionals. For this, OHCHR is responsible for carrying out the following activities:

• implement General Assembly and Human Rights Council mandates on the safety of journalists;
• implement, in conjunction with UNESCO and through a broad consultative process, the UN Plan of Action and contribute to its implementation, and co-chair the UN Network with UNESCO ;
• monitoring and reporting violations;
• raise public awareness through public statements and letters, including on individual cases and media repression; collaborate with Member States, international and regional organizations and civil society organizations; take part in or organize events, for example World Press Freedom Day, the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, conferences and round tables.
• provide technical advice through OHCHR country and regional presences, for example on the establishment and functioning of a specific protection mechanism, as well as training and capacity building;
• engage with Human Rights Council Special Procedures mandate holders and relevant human rights treaty bodies on the safety of journalists and media freedom.
• report on Sustainable Development Goal indicator 16.10.1 as the lead agency.

Latest reports and publications

Source: www.ohchr.org