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.

29.03.2018 6 min read

Ethiopia: Joint civil society letter on recent arrests of journalists and human rights defenders

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28.03.2018 2 min read

Kenya: Attack on journalists adds to concerns for press freedom

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23.03.2018 5 min read

UNHRC 37: Iran must cooperate with Special Rapporteur following renewal of mandate

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23.03.2018 4 min read

Malta: Open letter to diplomats regarding the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder

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22.03.2018 6 min read

Turkey: Implement rulings of European Court and release journalists Altan and Alpay

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UAE: One year on, award-winning human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor’s whereabouts remain unknown
20.03.2018 11 min read

UAE: One year on, award-winning human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor’s whereabouts remain unknown

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Myanmar: HRC must act on dehumanising ‘hate speech’ and criminalisation of journalists
19.03.2018 4 min read

Myanmar: HRC must act on dehumanising ‘hate speech’ and criminalisation of journalists

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Brazil: Ensure prompt and thorough investigation into murder of human rights defender
15.03.2018 3 min read

Brazil: Ensure prompt and thorough investigation into murder of human rights defender

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Iran: Cases of Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Seyed-Emami create dark precedent for privacy violations and unlawful detentions
15.03.2018 11 min read

Iran: Cases of Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Seyed-Emami create dark precedent for privacy violations and unlawful detentions

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