UNESCO seeks protection for journalists covering protests

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has called on all authorities to ensure the safety of journalists covering protests around the world in accordance with international norms and their human rights obligations.

In a recent statement issued at its headquarters in Paris, France, UNESCO noted that in recent months, multiple journalists covering protests in different parts of the world have been subjected to various forms of attacks, including killings, injuries, arbitrary detentions and confiscation of their equipment, while exercising their rightful duties as journalists.

It contended that in times of crisis, as in times of peace, journalists are crucial lifelines to verified information for citizens as they “facilitate public debate and dialogue that are pathways to democratic solutions.”

UNESCO stressed that “authorities must guarantee the safety of journalists covering protests, in line with international freedom of expression standards.”

It recalled that within the UNESCO Series World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development, it has previously highlighted the growing risks to the safety of journalists covering protests, citing in particular its Issue Briefs in 2020, 2021 and 2023.

UNESCO referred to its report on the safety of journalists covering environmental issues, which was published for World Press Freedom Day in May 2024, saying it revealed that 194 journalists, groups of journalists and media houses have been attacked in the context of environmental protests in the past 15 years.

The UN agency warned that “it is monitoring attacks and threats against journalists that undermine their legitimate role of informing populations with accurate and verified information.”

It stated that it promotes the safety of journalists through global awareness-raising and capacity building and by coordinating the implementation of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.