The United Nations has highlighted the growing dangers faced by media professionals worldwide on the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists.
Secretary-General António Guterres stressed that journalists face verbal abuse, legal threats, physical attacks, imprisonment, torture, and in some cases, death.
Nearly nine out of ten killings of journalists globally remain unresolved, he said, noting that Gaza has been the deadliest conflict zone for media workers.
Guterres called for independent and impartial investigations to bring perpetrators to justice.
“Impunity anywhere is not only an injustice to the victims and their families. It is an assault on press freedom, an invitation to further violence, and a threat to democracy itself,” he said.
The Secretary-General urged all governments to investigate every case, prosecute perpetrators, and ensure journalists can perform their duties freely.
He also highlighted the rise of online abuse targeting women journalists, warning that such harassment often leads to real-world harm and must be addressed.
“When journalists are silenced, we all lose our voice,” Guterres said.
He called on the global community to defend press freedom, demand accountability, and ensure that those who speak truth to power can do so without fear.
In Uganda, the commemoration was localised with regional media partners like Lango Women Media Association and Great Lakes Centre for Strategic Media Studies chosen by African Centre for Media Excellence, Uganda Media Sector Working Group and UNESCO to mobilise participants and to co-host it in Lira City.
The event was held under the theme: “Raising Awareness on AI-facilitated Gender-Based Violence Against Women Journalists.”
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