The Western Balkan’s Regional Platform for Advocating Media Freedom and Journalists’ Safety, which represents more than 7800 members, marks International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists.
The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2 November as the ‘International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists’ in General Assembly Resolution. This date was chosen in commemoration of the assassination of two French journalists in Mali on 2 November 2013.
This day it is a symbol of strong dedication of journalists to bring the truth in front of the eye of the general public and at the same time to remind the national institutions that they are obliged to ensure safe environment in which journalists can freely work.
In the past eleven years close to 930 journalists have been killed for reporting the news and bringing information to the public based on OSCE statistics. On average, this constitutes one death of journalist on every four days. In nine out of ten cases the killers go unpunished. Impunity leads to more killings and is often a symptom of worsening conflict and the breakdown of law and judicial systems.
The Western Balkan’s Regional Platform for Advocating Media Freedom and Journalists’ Safety so far has registered 380 attacks on journalists and yet, very few of them have been resolved by the competent institutions.
The Platform strongly supports journalists’ and media organizations efforts in protection of journalists and freedom of speech as well as their efforts in fighting against impunity for crimes against journalists. Every attack on journalists is considered as an attack on the public interest, democracy and the rights of all citizens.
Skopje – Belgrade – Podgorica – Pristina – Sarajevo – Zagreb
BH Journalists Association
Trade Union of Media of Montenegro
Croatian Journalists’ Association
Association of Journalists of Kosovo
Association of Journalists of Macedonia
Independent Journalists Association Serbia