Namibia Media Trust condemns attacks and violence against journalists

Namibia Media Trust has condemned the attacks and violence against journalists and media workers world wide as the world commemorates the International day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists.
 
In a statement Gwen Lister, Chairperson, Namibia Media Trust said on Monday November 2 the world marked the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, as proclaimed by a United Nations General Assembly Resolution adopted at its 68th session in 2013.

"The Resolution, condemning all attacks and violence against journalists and media workers worldwide, also urges Member States to implement definite measures to counter the present culture of impunity," he said.

"Member States were also urged to promote a safe an enabling environment for journalists to perform their work independent and without undue interference, to ensure accountability, and to bring to justice perpetrators of crimes against media."

He said despite this call and the adoption of a Day against Impunity, the killing of journalists continues unchecked.

"In the past decade more than 700 journalists have been killed for simply doing their job. This does not include the many more journalists who suffer non-fatal attacks, including torture, enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention, intimidation and harassment in both conflict and non-conflict situations, according to Unesco. Irina Bokova, Director General of Unesco, adds that less than one in ten cases involving the killing of journalists have been solved," Lister said.

"The Namibian Media Trust wishes to add its voice to the myriad of international and African media freedom organisations calling for an end to impunity and for African governments to do their part to end this scourge."

Lister said Namibia is fortunate to be one of only a few countries in the world where no incidents of the killing of journalists for the exercise of their profession have been recorded.

"It is nevertheless important that we support the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity in solidarity with journalists in Africa and other parts of the world where the killings of our colleagues continue and where impunity still rules the day," Lister said.

"It is important that all sectors of society support this campaign given the negative impact of impunity on the public's right to know and access to information. Namibians can add their support to the campaign against impunity on the Twitter hashtags #EndImpunity and #ImpunityDay."