Safety of journalists and human rights defenders

Journalists and human rights defenders around the world face major risks as a result of their work. Governments and other powerful actors, seeking to escape scrutiny and stifle dissent, often respond to critical reporting or activism with attempts to silence them.

Threats, surveillance, attacks, arbitrary arrest and detention, and, in the most grave cases, enforced disappearance or killings, are too often the cost of reporting the truth. The protection of journalists and human rights defenders, and ending impunity for attacks against them, is a global priority for safeguarding freedom of expression.

States are under an obligation to prevent, protect against, and prosecute attacks against journalists and human rights defenders. Creating a safe and enabling environment for their work necessitates legal reform, the creation of special protection mechanisms, and protocols to guide effective investigations and prosecutions where attacks occur. A free press and active civil society are essential to ensure the public’s right to know, so that governments and institutions can be held accountable.

Iran: End arbitrary detention of media charity worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe
13.10.2017 4 min read

Iran: End arbitrary detention of media charity worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe

Click here to go to article
13.10.2017 5 min read

Press freedom organisations condemn US withdrawal from UNESCO

Click here to go to article
12.10.2017 1 min read

Freelance journalist, Nijat Amiraslanov, sentenced to 30 days’ imprisonment

Click here to go to article
09.10.2017 16 min read

Malaysia: Joint Statement by civil society on book banning, thought control and academic meddling

Click here to go to article
09.10.2017 16 min read

Malaysia: Joint Statement by Civil Society (and individuals) on Book Banning, Thought Control and Academic Meddling

Click here to go to article
27.09.2017 5 min read

Turkey: Kadri Gürsel released, four remain behind bars in Cumhuriyet case

Click here to go to article
New Guide: implementing UN commitments to advance journalists’ safety
26.09.2017 5 min read

New Guide: implementing UN commitments to advance journalists’ safety

Click here to go to article
22.09.2017 3 min read

Brazil: Human rights defenders and journalists facing unprecedented risks

Click here to go to article
22.09.2017 3 min read

Bahrain: UPR commitments unlikely to restrain assault on free expression

Click here to go to article