What we have to combat

The Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, the Guatemalan Frank La Rue and friend of this Embassy, has written an article to commemorate the World Press Freedom Day:

To mark this important date, I will like to highlight some important conclusions contained in my last Report on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, to which we have to be conscious and aware in order to combat what is against our principles:

“Despite provisions in international human rights law, including the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantee the rights of journalists, journalists continue to be targeted for disseminating “inconvenient” information. The problem lies not in the lack of international standards, but in the inability or unwillingness of Governments to ensure the protection of journalists.

While armed conflict situations may place journalists at risk, the Special Rapporteur notes that the majority of attacks against journalists take place outside of armed conflict situations. Individuals who cover public demonstrations, report on issues such as corruption, human rights violations, environmental issues, organized crime, drug trafficking, public crises or emergencies are placed at particular risk of violence. Nevertheless, the Special Rapporteur also reiterates the importance of the following concerns.

Central challenges in relation to human rights violations committed against journalists include various forms of intimidation, physical attacks – including abductions and killings –, arbitrary detention, as well as impunity and the use of criminal laws to imprison and intimidate journalists. Female journalists face additional risks, such as sexual assault, mob-related sexual violence at public events or sexual abuse in detention or captivity. Due to social, cultural and professional stigmas, many of these attacks are not reported.

The presence of such risks deters journalists from continuing their work, or encourages self-censorship on sensitive matters. Consequently, society as a whole may not be able to access important information.

Laws that criminalize expression continue to be used by States to imprison journalists who disseminate “inconvenient” information. Journalists may be arrested and detained, particularly in the run-up to elections, often on the basis of vague anti-terrorist or national security laws. The Special Rapporteur is deeply concerned that the current number of journalists in prison is the highest since 1996. Criminal prosecution of journalists creates a “chilling effect” that stifles reporting on issues of public interest.

The precarious situation of journalists is further exacerbated by a culture of impunity. Failure to undertake effective investigations and to prosecute those responsible for attacks against journalists perpetrates further violence and undermines the ability of journalists to report on similar matters in the future.

The protection of journalists and combating impunity requires context-specific measures that address the specific risks in each situation and effectively addresses the root causes of attacks. While there are many organizations committed to ensuring the protection of journalists at all levels, there has not been much collaboration and joint strategies adopted at the international level. The Special Rapporteur thus welcomes the initiative to draft a United Nations joint Plan of Action on the Protection of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity and looks forward to its effective implementation.