UNESCO is marking on Sunday the International Day to End Impunity of Crimes against Journalists (IDEI) as the international organization’s data put the number of journalists killed on duty over the past decade at more than 700.
The occasion is marked as per a decision adopted by the UN’s General Assembly during its 68th session in 2013. The day, 2 November, was selected as a date for the international celebration as it marks the death of two French journalists in Mali in 2 November 2013.
“This landmark resolution condemns all attacks and violence against journalists and media workers. It 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,” UNESCO posted on its website.
The UN adopted the decision due to a worrying surge in the number of journalists killed in action while covering news around the world.
“In 2012 alone, UNESCO Director-General condemned the killing of 123 journalists, media workers, and social media producers of public interest journalism. In 2013, the figure decreased slightly to 91, but still represented the second deadliest year for journalists,” UNESCO said.
“DEI is therefore a very promising platform that can make a valuable contribution to the safety of journalists in the interest of societal development as a whole,” it added.
