Ahead of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists on 2 November, High Representative Josep Borrell and Vice-President for Values and Transparency, Věra Jourová, issued the following statement:

On the 10^th International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, we commend the fearless frontline reporters and journalists covering conflicts, crises, and emergencies. Their work is essential to expose human rights violations, abuses, and war crimes that would otherwise remain hidden from public view.

The unprecedented rise in killings of journalists over the last year is devastating and unacceptable. In Gaza, we see an unparalleled toll on journalists, who face extraordinary lethal dangers to deliver reliable news to the world in the absence of due protection and given the unjustified restrictions imposed on foreign media access. Ukrainian journalists continue to be targets of violence, harassment, and arbitrary detentions by Russia and pro-Russian forces. Across Lebanon, Myanmar, Yemen and beyond, journalists courageously report on the suffering of millions of civilians caught in the crossfire between warring parties. In Sudan, access of journalists is so compromised that it is almost impossible to document the atrocities of the ongoing war.

The EU strongly condemns attacks on journalists and calls once again for urgent and effective action to safeguard journalists and media workers. International humanitarian law is clear: journalists and media workers are civilians and must be protected at all times. Deliberately targeting journalists is a war crime under international humanitarian law.

Violence against journalists, threats and harassment foster a climate of fear and self-censorship, even forcing an increasing number of journalists into exile. Without accountability, the cycle of violence against journalists will persist, further diminishing the space for free and independent media and undermining citizens’ right to information. We urge all States to investigate these incidents promptly, effectively, and impartially.

Background

The EU is committed to work with partners around the world to build political support and mobilise resources to implement objectives of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity. In addition, the EU provides direct support to journalists at risk through the human rights defenders mechanism ProtectDefenders.eu.

To enhance media pluralism and independence in the EU, we adopted the European Media Freedom Act, as well as a package to tackle Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPPs), and a Recommendation on the safety of journalists. The Commission also continues to monitor developments related to media freedom and pluralism in all Member States and some enlargement countries through the annual Rule of Law Reports. The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), co-funded by the European Commission, aims to address violations of media freedom and pluralism in the EU and candidate countries.