Globally, over 1200 journalists have been murdered between 2006 and 2020. From 2016 up until 2020, 400 journalists were killed while on duty.
In 2020, 274 journalists were imprisoned – making this the highest yearly total in three decades. 9 out of 10 cases have not been judicially resolved.
There has been an increase in the level of impunity for crimes against journalists despite efforts to fight for and protect journalists.
Many journalists have admitted to being subjected to threats, kidnapping, harassment, and physical torture. These are disturbing and disheartening statistics, especially on the International Day To End Impunity For Crimes Against Journalists.
The recent case of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif, who was shot in Kenya in a Toyota Land Cruiser, is a perfect yet sad reality that crimes against journalists are still on the extreme.
The controversies around the investigations of this heinous crime portray that there is still a long way to go in the fight against impunity on crimes against journalists.
“If we cannot keep a journalist as prominent as Arshad Sharif safe, how can we keep ourselves safe?” asked Churchill Otieno, the president of Kenya’s Editors Guild.
International Day to End Impunity For Crimes Against Journalists (IDEI) is a United Nations recognized international day celebrated every November 2, that aims to ensure that all crimes against journalists are properly investigated and justice is fairly served.
This year, the UN will be celebrating its 10th anniversary of its plan of action on safety of journalists. The theme is, “Protecting Media to Protect Democracy.”
The IDEI conference will be held on the 3rd and 4th of November from 8 am to 8 pm in Vienna, Austria. Some of the topics to be covered are internet transparency and the safety of women journalists.
Eliud Owalo, the CS for Information, Communication, Technology and Digital Economy, said that his ministry and the Kenya Kwanza Government will defend the freedom of media by respecting media freedom as dictated in the constitution.
Speaking at the International Day to End Impunity Against Journalists event, he stated that responsible media regulates itself in line with the professional ethics and laws of Kenya.
BY CHRISTINE OMONDI