Did you know?
Every 4 days, a journalist is killed. Most of these murders remain unresolved, perpetuating a cycle of fear & silence.
On November 2, we commemorate the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists. According to UNESCO’S Between 2006 and 2024, over 1,700 journalists have been killed around the world, with close to 9 out of 10 cases of these killings remaining judicially unresolved. The latest show that the global impunity rate for journalist killings remains shockingly high at 85%.
Greece is particularly sensitive to the matter, since the commemoration of the Day was established with Resolution 68/163 (2014), tabled by the Hellenic Republic.
In his annual message, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres stressed that “a free press is fundamental to human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. Yet journalists around the world are prevented from doing their job and often face threats, violence, and even death in their mission to bring truth to light and hold the powerful to account”.
Marking the day, the UN Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk stressed that “journalists are being killed, harassed, imprisoned and silenced, from Gaza and Ukraine to Sudan, Haiti and beyond. Governments must protect journalists & prosecute those responsible for attacks”.
Lastly, observing the Day, France, Greece and Lithuania, cochairs of the Group of Friends for the Protection of Journalists, issued a statement condemning human rights violations against journalists.