The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, denounced Friday that in the last ten years at least 958 journalists have been killed, more than 1,000 are currently imprisoned and 64 are still missing.
«History has shown us that threats to journalists are often the ‘canary in the coal mine,’ a grim prelude to greater threats to human rights to come,» he described from Vienna, according to a statement issued by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Turk specified that, although in recent years there has been, on average, a decrease in murders of journalists, impunity for crimes against journalists remains widespread. Only 13 percent of cases since 2006 have been prosecuted.
«Every day, journalists are beaten, taken to court, imprisoned or see harm to their families, simply for doing their job. The numbers are unacceptable,» adding that medical, psychological and legal support should be «more available and accessible» when harm comes to reporters.
Turk also specified that, among the most immediate objectives, it is necessary to «curb digital surveillance technologies,» which, if used «improperly,» «undermine the rights of journalists and their sources.»
«However, in the absence of adequate legal safeguards, I reiterate my predecessor’s call for a moratorium on the export, sale, transfer, use and servicing of digital surveillance tools,» he said.
Turk pointed out that, thanks to the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists, national systems for the protection, prevention and punishment of possible attacks against journalists have been created or strengthened in up to 50 countries.
«We must strengthen national criminal justice systems by providing them with special investigative units or independent investigative structures,» he stressed during his appearance in Vienna on the occasion of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, which took place on Wednesday, November 2.
«We need stronger and more comprehensive national legislation to safeguard media freedom in accordance with international law: to counter claims against public participation and online harassment, especially against women journalists,» she added.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has further indicated that it is essential to work on improved data collection and analysis for «effective prosecution», while national reporting could «help track and address these crimes».
«Independent and ethical journalists are critical elements of the democratic ecosystem and the functioning of the social contract. Today’s anniversary is a moment to make the safety of journalists around the world a real priority,» he concluded.
