AFRICAN UNION CALLS ON GOVERNMENTS TO END IMPUNITY FOR CRIMES AGAINST JOURNALISTS
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The African Union Commission (AUC) and the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) have called on African governments to strengthen the protection of journalists and end impunity for crimes committed against media workers.
In a joint statement issued on November 2 to mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, the two organisations urged African Union member states to investigate attacks, prosecute perpetrators and provide effective remedies to victims.
The statement was signed by Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, and Omar Faruk Osman, President of the Federation of African Journalists.
The organisations warned that journalists across Africa continue to face killings, physical attacks, arbitrary arrests and detention, enforced disappearances, intimidation, legal harassment and digital abuse.
This year’s global theme, “Threats Evolve. Impunity Endures,” highlights how emerging technologies and evolving weapons are changing the risks faced by journalists, particularly those reporting from conflict zones, while perpetrators frequently escape accountability.
The statement singled out female journalists as particularly vulnerable to gender-based threats, harassment and online violence.
It also identified journalists covering elections, armed conflicts, corruption and human rights violations as working under severe pressure.
“When these crimes go unpunished, the perpetrators are emboldened, public-interest reporting is silenced, and communities are denied information they need to participate in public life and exercise their democratic rights,” the statement said.
The AU Commission and FAJ said independent media plays an essential role in promoting peace, democracy, accountability and people-centred development under the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
They cited the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which protects freedom of expression and access to information, and urged member states to fulfil their obligations under African and international human rights law.
The organisations called on governments to establish or strengthen national mechanisms for journalists’ safety and ensure law enforcement agencies understand and respect the role of the media.
They further urged authorities to protect journalists covering protests, elections, emergencies and armed conflicts, warning against the use of laws to intimidate media workers, obstruct legitimate reporting or restrict responsible freedom of expression.
Governments were also asked to take effective measures against digital threats, including surveillance, online harassment and technology-facilitated gender-based violence, while safeguarding human rights and freedom of expression.
The statement called for stronger cooperation among governments, regional and continental institutions, media organisations, journalists’ unions and civil society to improve prevention, protection and accountability.
It also emphasised the need to involve journalists and their representative organisations in designing and monitoring safety measures.
“Every journalist must be able to report without fear of violence or reprisal,” the statement said, reaffirming the organisations’ commitment to a continent where attacks on journalists are investigated and punished.
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