Bringing predators of freedom of information to justice Violence and crimes1 against journalists and other news providers are attacks not only on the victims themselves but also on the right to inform and its corollary, the right to be informed2. Most attacks and murders that target journalists go unpunished. In its 2012 annual roundup , Reporters Without Borders speaks of the decimation of those working in news and information, with 88 journalists and 47 citizen journalists killed. A damning indictment. The impunity enjoyed by the perpetrators of abuses encourages them to pursue their breaches of human rights and freedom of information. Inadequate national protection In the first instance, the protection of journalists and others involved in the media is the responsibility of every government. Government authorities are responsible for protecting and assisting their citizens and everyone on their territory or within their jurisdiction4. National courts are the rightful instruments for the punishment of attacks on the physical or psychological wellbeing of journalists. With this in mind, the special rapporteurs for freedom of expression5 have called for the formal criminalisation of crimes against freedom of expression and have drawn up a series of recommendations for governments In a joint statement on 25 June 2012, the four special experts said: “The category of crimes against freedom of expression should be recognised in the criminal law, either explicitly or as an aggravated circumstance leading to heavier penalties for such crimes, taking into account their serious nature; and crimes against freedom of expression, and the crime of obstructing justice in relation to those crimes, should be subject to either unlimited or extended statutes of limitations (i.e. the time beyond which prosecutions are barred)6. » 47, rue Vivienne 75002 Paris 0144 83 84 84 rsf.org 1 See RWB’s Barometer of Press Freedom en.rsf.org/press-freedom-barometer-journalists-killed.html?annee=2013 2 These are guaranteed by, among other things, Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml#a19, the 19th Article of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CCPR.aspx and regional instruments such as Article 10 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms conventions.coe.int/treaty/en/Treaties/ Html/005.htm, article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights achpr.org/instruments/achpr/, Article 13 of the American Convention on Human Rights cidh.org/Basicos/English/Basic3.American%20Convention.htm 3 2012 was the deadliest year for journalists since RWB published its first roundup in 1995 : en.rsf.org/2012-journalistsnetizens- decimated-19-12-2012,43806.html 4 See European Court of Human rights Dink v. Turkey (applications no. 2668/07, 6102/08, 30079/08, 7072/09 and 7124/09) 5 The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Representative on Freedom of the Media, the Organization of American States Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information 6 Joint Declaration on crimes against freedom of expression : ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews. aspx?NewsID=12384&LangID=E)
Posted on: Mon, 21 Oct 2013 00:16:44 +0000