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.

Afghanistan: Solidarity with the Afghan media community
25.01.2016 1 min read

Afghanistan: Solidarity with the Afghan media community

Click here to go to article
Malaysia: Judicial harassment of human rights defender Jannie Lasimbang must end
24.01.2016 5 min read

Malaysia: Judicial harassment of human rights defender Jannie Lasimbang must end

Click here to go to article
21.01.2016 3 min read

Kenya: Intimidation and harassment of bloggers reaches new high

Click here to go to article
Bahrain: Human rights defender Dr. Al-Singace enters 300th day of hunger strike, NGOs call for immediate release
19.01.2016 5 min read

Bahrain: Human rights defender Dr. Al-Singace enters 300th day of hunger strike, NGOs call for immediate release

Click here to go to article
Iran: Release of Jason Rezaian welcome, but international pressure must remain
16.01.2016 3 min read

Iran: Release of Jason Rezaian welcome, but international pressure must remain

Click here to go to article
05.01.2016 5 min read

Myanmar: Journalists recommend new government decriminalise expression

Click here to go to article
16.12.2015 3 min read

Gambia: Deyda Hydara, a journalist silenced by the gun

Click here to go to article
Russia: One step forward, two steps back in the battle against impunity in Dagestan
14.12.2015 16 min read

Russia: One step forward, two steps back in the battle against impunity in Dagestan

Click here to go to article
Brazil: New Study by ARTICLE 19 and WITNESS shows untapped potential of video evidence
14.12.2015 4 min read

Brazil: New Study by ARTICLE 19 and WITNESS shows untapped potential of video evidence

Click here to go to article