International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists 2016

Strengthening Judiciary Systems and African Courts to protect Safety of Journalists and End Impunity.

UNESCO and the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights are organizing an inter-regional dialogue to foster discussion among African judges on international standards on safety of journalists and ending impunity. This will include sharing knowledge of African mechanisms, other inter-regional courts of human rights and ways to promote these issues at regional and national levels.

This project specifically aims to build cooperation strategies with the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights and other relevant players in this field, in order to raise awareness and share good practices among judges on international and regional standards regarding freedom of expression, particularly those related to the safety of journalists and the fight against impunity.

The seminar aims to promote freedom of expression, freedom of press, safety of journalists and to fight impunity notably in Africa. This project falls under the framework of the implementation of the UN Plan of Action on The Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, UN Resolutions and UNESCO Decisions on safety of journalists.

By increasing the safety of journalists, reinforcing the fight against impunity and raising awareness about the decriminalization of defamation, the project will contribute to fostering peace and security, good governance, democracy and the rule of law in Africa. Furthermore, the project will contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals, in particular 16.10, which recognizes the need to ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms. The significance of the seminar will be further emphasized, as 2016 has been declared the African Year of Human Rights.

The complete concept note is available below.

English- French - Spanish - Russian- Arabic

Please find here the page listing the co-organizers, partners and supporters of the seminar.

Report on the seminar "Strengthening Judiciary Systems and African Courts to protect Safety of Journalists and End Impunity" (EN)

Infographics

The African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights

English

Video