Although a small number of cases have been legally resolved in the past period, journalists must not be discouraged and should continue to report all types of attacks to competent institutions and journalist associations. The SafeJournalists Network, on the occasion of November 2, The International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, emphasizes that without reported threats and attacks, there are no investigations, and therefore no solved cases. Only by actively participating in the mechanisms at their disposal, journalists can fight for a better and safer environment.
Journalists are the eyes and ears of democracy, its guardians and the extended hand of citizens. The role of journalists is essential for maintaining a free and open society. That’s why the SafeJournalists Network calls on the governments of the Western Balkan countries to take urgent and decisive measures to improve the safety of journalists and ensure justice for all those who have been victims of their own work.
The Network continues to advocate for the rights of journalists, a safer and more secure environment for their work, as well as better work conditions. On our improved website safejournalists.net, journalists can report attacks in the “report incident” section in English and local languages in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, North Macedonia, Serbia and Kosovo. In addition, on the same part of the website, information on contact persons for journalists from the prosecution and the police, where such contact points exist, can be found.
In 2022, the SafeJournalists Network recorded in its database a total of 187 cases of rights violations and endangering the safety of journalists (which includes threats to journalists’ lives and physical safety, other forms of intimidation, actual attacks on journalists, killings, as well as threats and attacks against media outlets and organizations). Of the total number of cases, 107 were reported to the competent prosecutor’s offices and the police. That year, 20 cases were dismissed by the prosecution, and 21 cases were settled in court.
In 2023, a total of 235 cases were recorded in the database of the SafeJournalists Network, of which 115 were reported to the competent prosecutors and the police. A total of 11 cases were dismissed, and 26 were resolved in court proceedings.
By October 31, 211 cases were recorded in the database of the SafeJournalists Network for 2024. The number of cases reported to the police and prosecutor’s offices is 89, of which 7 cases have been dismissed, and so far only two have been resolved.
The largest number of cases from all three years are still in the investigation phase. Unfortunately, in most cases, the perpetrators of crimes against journalists remain unknown and are in the records of unknown perpetrators until new evidence appears or criminal prosecution expires.
In the territory of the Western Balkans, in the last 30 years during the war, 110 local journalists lost their lives. In times without war, five journalists lost their lives, and three of those five cases were resolved by a final verdict.
See the cases for 2022, 2023 and 2024 by state in the following graphs:
*This chart is interactive – click on it to get more data
made by flourish
*This chart is interactive – click on it to get more data
made by flourish
*This chart is interactive – click on it to get more data
made by flourish
SafeJournalists Network
Association of Journalists of Kosovo
Association of Journalists of Macedonia
BH Journalists Association
Croatian Journalists’ Association
Independent Journalists Association of Serbia
Trade Union of Media of Montenegro