MOSCOW, November 2 (RIA Novosti) — The United Nations officially marks November 2 as the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists (IDEI) for the first time since the resolution was adopted last year, in commemoration of the assassination of two French journalists in Mali on that day.
“It is in recognition of such far-reaching consequences of impunity, especially of crimes against journalists, that the UN has declared 2 November as the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists (IDEI),” the UN report marking the day stated.
“As the first time that the UN officially marks this new day on the international calendar, it is important that the International Day becomes widely known and is positioned for an ever-expanding impact in coming years,” the report added.
The resolution urges member states to prevent violence against journalists and media workers and prosecute those accountable.
Based on findings from a forthcoming UN report, less than six percent of 593 cases of killings of journalists from 2006 to 2013 have been resolved, whereas in 60 percent of the cases no information on judicial processes was made available to the UN agency (UNESCO) compiling the report.
The reported cases of journalists killed do not include those who suffered non-fatal attacks, torture or were kidnapped both in conflict and non-conflict situations.
The adopted resolution urges Member States to prevent violence against journalists and media workers and prosecute those accountable.
