Kathmandu: Says the UN Secretary General in his message on the International Day to end Impunity for crimes against journalists, 2 November 2019, that “Freedom of expression and free media are essential to fostering understanding, bolstering democracy and advancing our efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Secretary General further says in his statement that in the recent years, however, there has been a rise in the scale and number of attacks against the physical safety of journalists and media workers, and of incidents infringing upon their ability to do their vital work, including threats of prosecution, arrest, imprisonment, denial of journalistic access and failures to investigate and prosecute crimes against them.

“The proportion of women among fatalities has also risen, and women journalists increasingly face gendered forms of violence, such as sexual harassment, sexual assault and threats”, the Secretary General of the United Nations adds.

When journalists are targeted, societies as a whole pay a price, he continues.

“Without the ability to protect journalists, our ability to remain informed and contribute to decision-making is severely hampered. Without journalists able to do their jobs in safety, we face the prospect of a world of confusion and disinformation”, he opines in his message.

On this International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, let us stand up, says the UNSG, together for journalists, for truth and for justice.

Based on a press release issued by the UN Nepal office: Ed.