Nigerian journalists should be protected against every form of assault and brutality, a pro-media rights group said on Wednesday as the world marked the International Day against Brutality of Journalists which is held every November 2.
“Every year, dozens of journalists are either murdered or imprisoned across the world for attempting to report facts. These happen as authorities and interested parties seek to silence and retaliate against critical voices’’, said the Campaign Against Brutality and For Safety of Journalists in Africa (CABSOJA).
“For example, the report by the Committee on the Protection of Journalists (CPJ) on Prison Census shows that a total of 199 journalists were jailed worldwide in 2015 alone, while over 1214 Journalists have been killed since 1992. Nigeria accounts for 10 of these Journalists murdered in the line of duty since 1992.
“Similarly, the CPJ’s Impunity Index Report released in 2015 listed Nigeria among the 14 countries that met the index criteria. The countries listed on the index by CPJ have at least five unsolved cases that took place between September 1, 2005, and August 31, 2015.’’
The group therefore called on the Nigerian government “to formulate and implement the necessary actions and policies that would ensure that journalists are protected from any form of assault and brutality in the course of their constitutional duty of holding government accountable to the people”.
The Founders of the group, Mr. Desmond Utomwen and Ugochukwu, stated this on Wednesday in Abuja during a press conference to mark the International Day against Brutality of Journalists.
The group said with five murders without a single perpetrator being convicted, Nigeria held a place on CPJ’s Impunity Index for the third year in a row, saying that at least two journalists have been killed by individuals affiliated with Boko Haram, according to CPJ research, while others, like prominent news editor Bayo Ohu, were killed in connection with their reporting on local politics.
‘’No doubt, we must act together to change this’’, the pro-media rights group added.
In response to the dangerous trend of assault against journalists, world leaders, at the 68 Session of the United Nations General Assembly, adopted a resolution on the safety of journalists and the issue of impunity.
The Resolution reaffirmed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and recalling relevant international human rights treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, as well as the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 and the Additional Protocols thereto.
It acknowledged that journalism is continuously evolving to include inputs from media institutions, private individuals and a range of organizations that seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, online as well as offline, in the exercise of freedom of opinion and expression, in accordance with article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, thereby contributing to shape public debate.
The resolution also recognized the relevance of freedom of expression and of free media in building inclusive knowledge societies and democracies and in fostering intercultural dialogue, peace and good governance, and also that the work of journalists often puts them at specific risk of intimidation, harassment and violence.
Bearing in mind that impunity for attacks against journalists constitutes one of the main challenges to strengthening the protection of journalists, and recalling in this regard that journalists, media professionals and associated personnel engaged in dangerous professional missions in areas of armed conflict shall be considered as civilians and shall be respected and protected as such, the UN session provided that world leaders take no action adversely affecting their status as civilians.
They also urged member states to do their utmost to prevent violence against journalists and media workers, to ensure accountability through the conduct of impartial, speedy and effective investigations into all alleged violence against journalists and media workers falling within their jurisdiction and to bring the perpetrators of such crimes to justice and ensure that victims have access to appropriate remedies.
CABSOJA added that it is against this background that its members are leading the campaign against the assaults on Journalists, adding that CABSOJA has a vision and a mission to seek and promote a safe working environment for journalists and all media workers.
‘’We therefore, are today joining forces with related bodies across the globe in waging a global campaign to combat impunity. Our collective voices must be raised against assault on journalists and speak out loudly for justice’’, the group said.
It implored all stakeholders to close ranks to ensure effective justice delivery system, calling for the promotion of harmonious working relationship between journalists and security forces. They also called on all journalists to ensure that ethical standards are maintained in all areas of practice