International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists – FORUM-ASIA Statement
2 November 2015 4:32 pm
The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) joins the international community in commemorating the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists (IDEI). FORUM-ASIA urges all Asian Governments to end impunity and prevent all violence against journalists as well as all against those of who are targeted for exercising their right to freedom of expression.
According to UNESCO figures, since 2006 over 700 journalists have been killed in the line of duty, this means that on average one journalist dies every five days in the pursuit of her/his profession. In this context, as of 2014, only 8 per cent of cases of journalist killings were reported to have been judicially resolved [1]. More than 90 cases of journalist killings in Asia between September 2005 and August 2015 remain unsolved [2]. Evidently, impunity continues to be the predominant trend.
A culture of impunity only serves the purposes of human rights violators and obstructs the work of those who are trying to investigate and bring human rights abuse to light. Today, FORUM-ASIA reiterates its calls to all Asian Governments to:
- Promote a safe and enabling environment for journalists, media workers, bloggers and all those who exercise their right to freedom of expression;
- Bring to justice perpetrators of crimes against journalists, media workers, bloggers and all those who exercise their right to freedom of expression;
- Ensure appropriate access to remedies for the victims.
Ending impunity should be a priority for all Governments and the wider international community, as a crucial safeguard to freedom of expression and prerequisite for democracy, human rights and peace.
[1]http://www.unesco.org/new/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/CI/CI/pdf/Events/IDEI_2014/IDEI2015_Facts-and-Figures-on-Safety-of-Journalists-2013.pdf
[2]https://cpj.org/reports/2015/10/impunity-index-getting-away-with-murder.php#table