Human rights reporting plays a vital role in maintaining transparency, accountability, and the protection of basic freedoms around the world. However, journalists and human rights defenders continue to face an alarming array of threats, from targeted surveillance and harassment to arbitrary detention, attacks, and even killings. According to the OHCHR and the UNESCO Observatory of Killed Journalists, over 1,600 journalists have been killed since 1993, with an impunity rate that remains overwhelmingly high, highlighting the dangers faced by those dedicated to uncovering the truth.
Despite the crucial role of human rights reporting, media freedom has been steadily declining in recent years. This decline is marked by an increase in attacks on journalists, both online and offline, the use of defamation laws to silence critics, and the rise of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), which are designed to intimidate and financially exhaust reporters. Such legal tactics disproportionately affect women journalists and minority groups, making it more difficult for them to carry out their essential work.
The OHCHR, in cooperation with UNESCO, has launched the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, which outlines steps to prevent attacks, protect journalists, and prosecute those responsible. This plan aims to create a safer environment for journalists, but challenges remain, especially as new threats emerge, such as digital surveillance and online harassment. These issues are particularly concerning in the context of an increasingly digital world, where disinformation, hate speech, and cyber-attacks are rampant.
Journalists covering protests or reporting in conflict zones are often targeted by security forces, government authorities, or protest participants. The targeting of truth-tellers is not only a violation of their human rights, but it also hinders the public’s access to critical information. As UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated: “Stop targeting truth and truth-tellers. As journalists stand up for truth, the world stands with them.”
To protect human rights reporting, states must ensure a legal framework that safeguards freedom of expression and implements protection mechanisms for journalists. Special attention must be given to the specific challenges faced by women and minority reporters, who experience gender-based and racialized threats in their work. It is also crucial that the international community continues to support initiatives like the UN Plan of Action and advocates for accountability and justice in cases where journalists and human rights defenders are attacked.
As we reflect on the safety of journalists and the issue of impunity, it becomes clear that protecting human rights reporting is not just about safeguarding individual journalists; it is about preserving the very fabric of democracy and justice. Without these protections, the powerful remain unchecked, and the voices of the oppressed go unheard. For a world that seeks to promote peace, transparency, and accountability, protecting human rights reporting is more important than ever.
This is why The Centre for Human Rights Reporting exists – to give a voice, to give training and to give expertise on this pressing issue.