Countries Should Take Action to Protect Journalists From Harassment

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on all countries to mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists with concrete actions to ensure that all media personnel are guaranteed the space they need to operate free from any form of harassment or intimidation, according to official statement.

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) — Countries around the world should act to ensure journalists can work free from harassment, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday in marking the United Nations’ annual recognition of low conviction rates for violent crimes against media workers.

"I call on all countries to mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists with concrete actions to ensure that all media personnel are guaranteed the space they need to operate free from any form of harassment or intimidation," Ban asserted in a statement.

The statement noted that of the 827 reported killings of journalists over the past 10 years, only 8 percent of perpetrators were brought to justice.

The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is working with international partners to implement the world body’s Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity with a goal "to create a culture of freedom of expression,” Ban’s statement added.

Earlier Wednesday, the chairman of Russia’s Union of Journalists said the group and UNESCO would sign a memorandum condemning impunity for the killing of journalists.