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.

Turkey: Press freedom groups condemn disinformation bill
06.10.2022 3 min read

Turkey: Press freedom groups condemn disinformation bill

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Cambodia: Meet UN benchmarks ahead of elections
06.10.2022 2 min read

Cambodia: Meet UN benchmarks ahead of elections

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Burkina Faso: Military coup is a blow to stability and threatens human rights
05.10.2022 4 min read

Burkina Faso: Military coup is a blow to stability and threatens human rights

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UK: Drop legal threats against media outlets reporting in public interest
05.10.2022 3 min read

UK: Drop legal threats against media outlets reporting in public interest

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Spain: Ensuring justice for women journalists targeted by online harassment
05.10.2022 4 min read

Spain: Ensuring justice for women journalists targeted by online harassment

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Mexico: Army used Pegasus spyware against journalists and activists
04.10.2022 5 min read

Mexico: Army used Pegasus spyware against journalists and activists

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Iran: Release human rights defenders detained during protests
04.10.2022 6 min read

Iran: Release human rights defenders detained during protests

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Egypt: Release Alaa Abdel Fattah and Mohamed el-Baqer
29.09.2022 11 min read

Egypt: Release Alaa Abdel Fattah and Mohamed el-Baqer

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Senegal: Rise in censorship and crackdown on expression
22.09.2022 5 min read

Senegal: Rise in censorship and crackdown on expression

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