Media freedom and protection of journalists.

On 2 and 3 December 2022, FIGHT IMPUNITY and the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) are co-organising a two-day seminar in Paris and at the Jean Monnet House in Bazoches on Media freedom and protection of journalists.

Maria ARENA, Chair of the European Parliament sub-Committee on Human Rights, will lead the discussion with experts from UNESCO and the EU Institutions, activists, and journalists.

The event will be also attended by another MEP, Leopoldo LOPEZ GIL and numerous experts in the field, including Professor Vincent COURONNE, journalist and activist Jean Paul MARTHOZ, the President of the International Federation of Journalists, Dominique PRADALIE, Dr Wadih AKL Attorney from Lebanon and the investigative journalist from Ghana, ANAS and many others. 

Media freedom and pluralism are nowadays indissociable from democracy as they protect pluralism, tolerance and broadmindedness without which democratic societies cannot flourish. The European Parliament has supported the cause of journalists through all the tools at its disposal, including urgency resolutions, such as most recently on the situation of journalists in Georgia and Mexico, or press statements by DROI Subcommittee. It awarded its most prestigious award, the Sakharov Prize several times in the past to journalists or their associations. Currently, the AFET Committee is preparing a report on the protection of journalists around the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter, rapporteur Isabel Wiseler-Lima.  In the Annual Report of FIGHT IMPUNITY dedicated to the “State of the Impunity in the World”, it is strongly highlighted that in many countries freedom of expression is not guaranteed and that unfortunately murders and violence against journalists are at their peak. Ending impunity for crimes against journalists is one of the most pressing issues to guarantee freedom of expression and access to information for all citizens. Threats of violence and attacks against journalists create a climate of fear for media professionals, impeding the free circulation of information, opinions, and ideas. The issue of safety of journalists has gained a higher visibility also in the civil society organizations’ dimension and cooperation with the institutional bodies becomes increasingly necessary to protect Media and Democracy.