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.

China: Release journalist and human rights defender Zhang Zhan
14.05.2025 10 min read

China: Release journalist and human rights defender Zhang Zhan

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Hong Kong: Rights groups denounce transnational repression of exiled activists’ families
08.05.2025 7 min read

Hong Kong: Rights groups denounce transnational repression of exiled activists’ families

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MENA: Media freedom still under attack across the region
04.05.2025 15 min read

MENA: Media freedom still under attack across the region

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Yemen: Press freedom hampered by systematic repression and widespread impunity
03.05.2025 7 min read

Yemen: Press freedom hampered by systematic repression and widespread impunity

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Europe: Defending democracy means defending media freedom
03.05.2025 6 min read

Europe: Defending democracy means defending media freedom

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Israel: Urgent call to protect media workers
11.04.2025 3 min read

Israel: Urgent call to protect media workers

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Kenya: Arrests and intimidation for artistic expression must stop
11.04.2025 7 min read

Kenya: Arrests and intimidation for artistic expression must stop

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Greece: Impunity persists on fourth anniversary of Giorgos Karaivaz murder
09.04.2025 3 min read

Greece: Impunity persists on fourth anniversary of Giorgos Karaivaz murder

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UN: New resolution on human rights defenders
04.04.2025 11 min read

UN: New resolution on human rights defenders

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