The 2023 International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists kicks off today and tomorrow at the Organisation of American States (OAS) headquarters in Washington D.C. Organized by UNESCO in collaboration with the Secretary General of OAS, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), and the Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, this event aims to delve into the nexus between violence against journalists, the integrity of elections, and the responsibilities of public leadership.
This year’s gathering spotlights the pressing challenges confronting journalists and communicators in the pursuit of their profession while signaling a warning about the mounting levels of violence and suppression directed at them. These challenges encompass attacks and constraints on the press during coverage of social protests, exploitation of legal mechanisms against journalists based on their journalistic endeavors on matters of public interest, and the surge in forced exiles of journalists in certain nations.
The event will feature various panels and discussions uniting a diverse array of stakeholders, including former special rapporteurs, academia, civil society organizations, United Nations agencies, and other advocates committed to enhancing journalists’ safety worldwide.
The occasion marks the 25th anniversary of the OAS Special Rapporteurship and the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Opinion, both pivotal entities in upholding global freedom of expression.
In parallel, in Nigeria, UNESCO Abuja and the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) will celebrate the day at X Space, focusing on the theme, “Violence Against Journalists: The Integrity of Elections and Role of Public Leadership.”
