International Day To End Impunity Against Journalists Observed With A Call On Government To Protect Media Practitioners
Ghana joins the rest of the global community to commemorate the day of ending impunity for crimes against journalists.
This is a day which draws the attention of UN member states to implement definite measures countering the present culture of impunity.
Ending impunity for crimes against journalists is one of the pressing issues to guarantee freedom of expression and access to information for all citizens.
In many cases, threats of violence and attacks against journalists are not properly investigated. This emboldens perpetrators of the crime and at the same time affects society including journalists themselves.
It is against this background that the UN plan of action on the safety of journalists was created in 2012 to have a safe and free environment for all media practitioners.
Concerns have been raised in Ghana over the arbitrary arrest of journalists based on false publications which are becoming rampant.
This year’s commemoration of the International Day to end impunity for crimes against journalists is themed, ‘Protecting Media To Protect Democracy’ and will host a high-level, multi-stakeholder conference on the safety of journalists in Vienna, Austria.
According to UNESCO, this year’s commemoration must be the rallying point to renew commitment to protecting journalists everywhere.
In a statement to mark the day, the Director General of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay said, it is time to step up where new forms of violence have emerged especially towards women.
The statement said, three in four female journalists have experienced online harassment adding operations and synergies have to be replicated to improve monitoring and information sharing to better tackle the challenges.
Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General is also calling on governments and the international community to take necessary steps to protect journalists.
