UN Resolution on Journalists’ Safety Gains International Praise, Calls for Government Implementation By Innocent Eneta

In a landmark move, the United Nations Human Rights Council, at its 45th Regular Session, has adopted a resolution that addresses critical issues surrounding the safety of journalists. Introduced by Austria and led by a cross-regional core group of countries, this resolution, known as A/HRC/45/L.42/Rev.1, has garnered widespread acclaim from stakeholders worldwide.

Since 2012, the United Nations Human Rights Council has made it a biennial tradition to consider resolutions on the safety of journalists. This year’s resolution tackles a range of pressing topics, including gender-based violence, access to information, the impact of COVID-19, overbroad and vague laws, extraterritorial threats, strategic lawsuits against public participation, and accreditation.

Specifically, the resolution highlights the urgent need to address gender-based violence against journalists, emphasizing measures to prevent sexual harassment and violence while providing gender-sensitive investigative procedures and support for victims. It also calls on political leaders and public officials to refrain from using discriminatory language towards women journalists.

In a world where information is paramount, the resolution underscores the importance of journalists having access to information held by public authorities and the public’s right to receive unbiased media output. It encourages governments to adopt transparent laws and policies for the effective disclosure of information, even in online contexts.

Recognizing the profound impact of COVID-19 on journalists, the resolution expresses concern about the pandemic’s implications for their work, health, and safety. It urges nations to assess the pandemic’s impact on information provision and media sustainability, striving to provide financial support to the media while safeguarding editorial independence.

Addressing extraterritorial threats, the resolution expresses concern over the targeting of journalists and media workers outside their home countries, including harassment, surveillance, and arbitrary deprivation of life. This comes in the wake of the extraterritorial murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, investigated by the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial killings.

Furthermore, the resolution sheds light on meritless lawsuits against journalists, often related to defamation or protecting reputation. These lawsuits frequently involve political and economic motives, with the aim of silencing investigative reporting. Governments and private actors are urged to refrain from using legal tactics to suppress journalism.

Edetaen Ojo, Executive Director of the Media Rights Agenda (MRA), stressed the importance of the Nigerian government’s full implementation of the resolution. He called for a comprehensive review of existing laws, policies, and practices to ensure journalists’ ability to work independently and without interference.

The resolution also emphasizes the need for prevention mechanisms to protect threatened journalists, as well as strategies to combat impunity for attacks and violence against them. It calls for specialized investigative units, independent commissions, and specific investigation and prosecution protocols.

Professor Umaru Pate of Bayero University, Kano, emphasized the multifaceted nature of journalist safety. He underscored the importance of economic, physical, psychological, gender, and digital safety, as well as the need for risk analysis, insurance coverage, and safety policies within media organizations.

Veteran journalist Owei Lakemfa reinforced the idea that journalists are the society’s watchdogs and guardians of the right to information. He emphasized the need for journalists to emancipate themselves, prioritizing their allegiance to the public rather than to government or the rich.

As the world witnesses evolving challenges to journalists’ safety, the UN resolution offers a beacon of hope and a clear path forward for governments, including Nigeria, to uphold their international human rights obligations and protect their invaluable journalists and media communities.