- Violence against journalists, especially in retaliation for their work, poses a serious threat to freedom of expression, whether it takes the form of physical or online attacks.
- States, in addition to avoiding ensuring that State actors do not engage in attacks, have a responsibility to take due diligence to prevent violence, protect journalists and investigate, prosecute and redress any attacks that are perpetrated.
- Protection of confidential journalistic sources is also important to protecting journalists and ensuring freedom of expression more generally.
- States must incorporate gender-sensitive approaches when responding to violence against journalists, given the prevalence of gender-based violence against female journalists.
- Practical steps may include developing a national plan of action or a specialised safety mechanism to address violence against journalists.
Introduction
Violence against journalists and others for exercising their right to freedom of expression poses a particularly serious threat to the realisation of this right. Besides violating the rights of the targets, such violence may lead to journalists self-censoring, especially by avoiding reporting on important but sensitive topics such as corruption, organised crime or human rights violations. This in turn harms the rights of society as a whole to access information about these issues freely.
This Module provides an overview of State obligations under international human rights law to address violence against journalists. It first gives a brief overview of the scope of State obligations to create a favourable environment for freedom of expression. It then looks specifically at State obligations to respond to physical and online violence against journalists, protection of journalistic sources, and gender-based violence. It ends with a discussion of practical approaches to combatting violence.
In this module
- Introduction
- The Duty to Provide a Favourable Environment for Freedom of Expression
- Physical Attacks
- Online Violence such as Abuse, Trolling and Online Smear Campaigns
- Protection of Journalistic Sources
- Gender-Based Violence
- Practical Approaches
- Conclusion
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