World leaders urged to end violence vs journalists

MANILA, Philippines — A group of independent, United Nations-appointed human rights experts has called on world leaders to stop inciting hatred and violence against the media, citing the hundreds of journalists killed or detained for doing their job.

In a statement released ahead of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists on Nov. 2, UN experts David Kaye, special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; Agnes Callamard, special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; and Bernard Duhaime, chair of the working group on enforced or involuntary disappearances, said political incitement to violence against journalists is “toxic.” 

The experts also asked world leaders to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.

“These last weeks have demonstrated once again the toxic nature and outsized reach of political incitement against journalists, and we demand that it stop,” the group said.

It strongly urged states to “take firm steps to ensure accountability for violence and attacks against journalists, reversing and resisting the appalling trend of impunity.”

The experts particularly highlighted the killing last month of Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi and condemned the failure to address his enforced disappearance and apparent murder.

“The only way forward is to establish an independent, transparent and credible investigation into his murder, one authorized by and reporting to the United Nations. Anything short of a complete investigation, recognized as such by the international community, will make a mockery of government claims of commitment to the safety of journalists,” the statement said.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said that between 2006 and 2017, over 1,000 journalists were killed for reporting the news and bringing information to the public; an average of one death every four days.

In nine out of 10 cases, the killers go unpunished and this impunity, said the UN experts, triggers further violence and attacks. The experts said perpetrators must be brought to justice and victims and families should have access to remedies.

High-level international commitments already exist, such as a resolution on the safety of journalists, adopted by the Human Rights Council in September. 

The UN experts called on world leaders to implement such resolutions and end their role in inciting hatred and violence against the media.