Safety of journalists and human rights defenders

Journalists and human rights defenders around the world face major risks as a result of their work. Governments and other powerful actors, seeking to escape scrutiny and stifle dissent, often respond to critical reporting or activism with attempts to silence them.

Threats, surveillance, attacks, arbitrary arrest and detention, and, in the most grave cases, enforced disappearance or killings, are too often the cost of reporting the truth. The protection of journalists and human rights defenders, and ending impunity for attacks against them, is a global priority for safeguarding freedom of expression.

States are under an obligation to prevent, protect against, and prosecute attacks against journalists and human rights defenders. Creating a safe and enabling environment for their work necessitates legal reform, the creation of special protection mechanisms, and protocols to guide effective investigations and prosecutions where attacks occur. A free press and active civil society are essential to ensure the public’s right to know, so that governments and institutions can be held accountable.

Turkey: Charges against journalist Baransel Ağca must be dismissed
06.11.2023 4 min read

Turkey: Charges against journalist Baransel Ağca must be dismissed

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Turkey: International groups condemn arrest of journalist Tolga Şardan
02.11.2023 6 min read

Turkey: International groups condemn arrest of journalist Tolga Şardan

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Europe: End impunity for Crimes against Journalists
02.11.2023 10 min read

Europe: End impunity for Crimes against Journalists

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Gaza and Israel: Journalists are not a target
02.11.2023 5 min read

Gaza and Israel: Journalists are not a target

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Serbia: Authorities must address threats to journalists
30.10.2023 5 min read

Serbia: Authorities must address threats to journalists

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Belarus: Human Rights Defender Nasta Lojka must be finally released
26.10.2023 10 min read

Belarus: Human Rights Defender Nasta Lojka must be finally released

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Bosnia and Herzegovina: Media freedom in survival mode
26.10.2023 9 min read

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Media freedom in survival mode

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Malaysia: Government must halt harassment of land rights defenders
25.10.2023 3 min read

Malaysia: Government must halt harassment of land rights defenders

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Gaza Strip and Israel: Open call for an immediate ceasefire
23.10.2023 12 min read

Gaza Strip and Israel: Open call for an immediate ceasefire

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