ISLAMABAD: On the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists on Thursday, rights activists called for stringent measures to protect journalists against threat to their lives and hurdles restraining them from performing their professional duties.
Rallies and seminars were held in different parts of the country to highlight the importance of a free and peaceful environment for journalists to work. The speakers on the occasion said the government should take action against all those involved in attacking and killing journalists. They also called upon the media house owners to ensure protection of the media journalists and workers.
Meanwhile in a statement, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that more than 350 journalists had been killed since the UN General Assembly established the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists in December 2014, according to data from the Committee to Protect Journalists.
“Today, we reaffirm our commitment to ending impunity for crimes against journalists, and we call on the global community to unite in holding accountable those who direct and perpetrate violence, harassment, and intimidation against media workers. The United States is committed to continued partnership with the Media Freedom Coalition and our partners in the global human rights community to promote accountability for those who carry out violence against journalists simply for doing their jobs.”
Corruption and abuse of power thrive where the free and independent press is suppressed. Violence, spurious detentions, harassment, and acts of intimidation against media workers carry a tangible harm to both the individual and to society at large. Combatting impunity for violence against journalists is a key line of effort under the Department’s Journalism Protection Platform, announced at the first Summit for Democracy.
“We call on governments globally to bring to justice those responsible for crimes against journalists, so that they may continue their important work shining the light of truth free from fear of violence or harassment.”
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