Impunity: Governments must be held accountable for targeting journalists, says IFJ

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) insists that national governments are held accountable when journalists are killed or targeted across the world, in particular those in Palestine, Lebanon, Israel, and Syria as a result of the war in Gaza. The appeal comes on 2 November, the 10th anniversary of International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists.

Credit: IFJ

Since the beginning of the year, at least 76 journalists and media workers have been killed in the course of their work, 46 of them in Gaza, according to the IFJ's latest statistics.

The IFJ condemns, in particular, Israel's attitude towards the press and its attacks on media workers as a result of the war in Gaza. At least 146 journalists have lost their livesthere since the beginning of the conflict in October 2023 - the bloodiest period in the history of journalism.

Since October 2023, the IFJ has made repeated appeals to the United Nations, demanding a ceasefire and calling for humanitarian and logistical aid for journalists, including protective equipment of which journalists are deprived. The IFJ has also called onthe Israeli government to lift the ban preventing international journalists from entering the Gaza Strip. In addition, the IFJ accusesIsrael of violating UN Security Council Resolutions 2222/2015and 1738/2006, which condemn international attacks against journalists and media workers in situations of armed conflict.

In the rest of the world, the Federation deplores the endless arbitrary arrests, intimidation, disappearances, physical assaults and online threats against journalists, which aim to muzzle the press and snuff out stories that are in the public interest.

The Federation points in particular at other countries where impunity is rampant, for example, Pakistan with 9 killings this year, Colombia, where there have been multiple cases of threats, attacks and two journalists killed in 2024, Kosovo where 19 killings of journalists remain unpunished and Sudan, another country at war where at least four journalists have been killed this year, mostly by the militias and members of the security forces with total impunity.

IFJ President Dominique Pradalié said: "This year is again a sad day when it comes to impunity. There is absolutely no free and safe environment for journalists to work in and we are currently witnessing the bloodiest period in the history of journalism due to the conflict in Gaza and neighbouring countries. Governments around the world must be held to account for the atrocities perpetrated against journalists and the UN must do more to uphold press freedom, including by calling for implementation of its own resolutions. It is high time that the international community says 'end impunity' andadopts a binding UN Convention on the safety and independence of journalists and other media professionals".

This year the IFJ will be represented by its Vice-President, Palestinian journalist and Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate (PJS) President Nasser Abu Bakr, at the UN global commemorationof Impunity Day on 6-7 November 2024 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Safety of Journalists in Crises and Emergencies will be the theme of the event.