International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists on 2 November – PEC condemns an escalation in killings of journalists

Geneva  (PEC) – On the occasion of International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists on 2 November, the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) condemns the escalation in criminal activity against journalists. The Geneva-based NGO demands independent and international investigations to identify the perpetrators of these crimes and prosecute them.

“The fight against impunity is at the core of the combat against violations of human rights. National mechanisms are not enough. International mechanisms of inquiry are needed”, stressed PEC Secretary General Blaise Lempen.

The brutal elimination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul marks a very disturbing escalation in criminal activity targeting journalists around the world. The murder of the Bulgarian journalist Viktoria Marinova, even if not related to her work as a journalist, is also appalling.

PEC called for an international commission of inquiry to shed light on all aspects of Jamal Khashoggi’s barbaric murder.

Too many crimes against journalists are not investigated and not prosecuted. One year after the assassination of the Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia on 16 October 2017, the sponsors of this murder are not yet known. The PEC with 24 other organisations asked for a public inquiry.

More than 100 journalists killed so far in 2018, an increase of 18%

After 10 months into 2018, the number of journalists killed is already higher than last year, according to the PEC figures. Since January, 106 journalists and media workers were killed in 36 countries (99 for the whole year 2017), an increase of 18% compared to 2017. Afghanistan (17 killed), Mexico (15) and Yemen (8) witnessed the highest fatalities so far.

The PEC welcomed in September the adoption by the UN Human Rights Council of a new resolution on the safety of journalists. Regrettably, this resolution and the previous ones are not implemented by a number of governments at the expense of freedom of expression.

The PEC is in favor of an international Convention for the protection of journalists with compliance mechanisms to fight more effectively against impunity. The PEC supports the new campaign launched by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) for a UN Convention to protect journalists.

The International Day to End Impunity marks the anniversary of the killings of two RFI Reporters, Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon, murdered in Mali in 2013.

for the list of casualties, please consult: www.pressemblem.ch