International Day to End Imunity for crime against Journalists

OHCHR: Impunity for Crimes against Journalists.

Panel discussion on the safety of journalists in crises and emergencies and the legal drivers behind impunity.

This event is co-organized by the  Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in order to celebrate the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, which theme this year is "safety of journalists in crises and emergencies".

More specifically, it is aimed to consider and underscore the high rate of impunity for crimes against journalists worldwide, especially affecting those working in and on crises and emergencies; highlight the legal factors – from restrictive laws to abusive litigation – which increase that impunity; and share best practices on how to reduce that high rate of impunity.

More info;

Watch the Panel discussion on the safety of journalists in crises and emergencies and the legal drivers behind impunity!

Morning Segment: Global Commemoration of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists 2024

9:00 am - 12:45 pm.

Location: Nelson Mandela Conference Hall.

African Union

Artistic Performance to mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists 2024.

9:00 - 9:10 am

Session I: International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists 2024.

9:50 - 10:10 am.

Keynote Speaker: H.E. Ourveena Geereesha Topsy-Sonoo, ACHPR Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to information in Africa.

- Ms. May Al-Rahal, Member, National Safety Committee of Iraq

Ms. Zoe Titus, Chair, Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD), ED, Namibia Media Trust

- Mr. Andreas Papaconstantinou (TBC), Director of the Division for Neighborhood and Middle East – DG ECHO

Session II: International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists 2024.

10:15 - 10:35 am.

- Mr. Kunda Dixit, Journalist, Editor and co-publisher, Himalmedia

- Ms. Meera Selva, CEO Internews Europe

- Ms. Madeleine Ngeunga, Africa Editor, Pulitzer Center.

Interactive Session: Commemoration International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists 2024

10:40 - 11:00 am.

Minute of Silence led by H.E. Honorable Ourveena Geereesha Topsy-Sonoo, African Union Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression.

#commemoration, #interactivesession, #idei2024, #SafetyOfJournalists

Session III: International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists 2024

11:15 - 11:35 am

- Ms. Mariam Ouédraogo, Journalist, Sidwaya, 2023 ICFJ Knight International Journalism Award Winner.

- Ms. Irene Khan, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Opinion

- Ms. Nadine Hoffman, Deputy Executive Director, International Media Women Foundation (IMWF)

- H.E. Courtney O'Donnell, US Ambassador to UNESCO

Panel Discussion on Collaborative Solutions: Solidarity Centers and Exile Hubs. International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists 2024.

11:40 - 12:00 pm.

- Mr. Viacheslav Solomka, Media Hub, Ukraine

- Mr. Nasser Abdallah Salim Abubaker, President, Palestine Journalists Syndicate (PSJ)

- Ms. Rafa Renas, Community Manager, Exile Media Hub, Kenya

- Mr. Laurent Giacobino, Director for the Mediterranean Region and Asia, CFI.

Launch: Global Repository of National/Regional Safety Mechanisms for Journalists. International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists 2024.

12:00 - 12:45 pm.

- Ms. Donna Lynn Caparas, Philippine National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM), Philippines

- Ms. Adrian Evtuhovici, Coordinator of the Safety of Journalists Platform. Council of Europe (CoE)

- Mrs. Elida Acosta Dávalos, Mesa para la Seguridad de Periodistas – Paraguay

- Mr. Emmanuel K Dogbevi, Vice-President, TAEF, and Federation of African Journalists (FAJ)

- Mr. Eric Oduor, Commitee Member, Federation of African Journalists (FAJ)

- Ms. May Al-Rahal, Member, National Safety Committee of Iraqi Journalists

The scroll is a central feature of the exhibition “SPEAK", owned by Irene Khan, UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression and opinion.

Unveiling Virtual Scroll of Killed Journalists. International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists 2024.

12:45 - 1:00 pm.

Afternoon Segment: Focus on Africa. International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists 2024

2:00 - 6:00 pm.

Session IV: International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists 2024.

2:00 - 3:00 pm

- Ms. Leslie Richer , Director, Directorate of Information and Communication, African Union

- H.E. Amb. Churchill EWUMBUE-Monono (TBC), Permanent Representative of the Republic of Cameroon to the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council.

- H.E. Honorable Ourveena Geereesha Topsy-Sonoo, ACHPR, Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to information in Africa

- H.E. Ambassador Marie-Antoinette Rose Quatre (TBC), CEO, African Peer Review Mechanism.

- Justice Dominic Adjei, Judge of the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights and Justice of the Court of Appeal.

- Amb. Salah Siddiq Hammad, Head of Secretariat, African Governance Architecture and African Peace and Security Architecture, African Union.

Session V: International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists 2024

3:00 - 4:00 pm

- Mr. Ayeda Robert Kotchani, Regional Representative a.i, ONU Droits de l'Homme - Afrique de l'Ouest; Office for West Africa

- Ms. Patience Zanelie Chiradza (TBC), Director, Governance and Conflict Prevention Directorate, AU PAPS

-Ms. Rania Machlab, Head of Delegation and Representative to the African Union, International Committee of the Red Cross

- Mr. Sadibou Marong, Head of Africa Office and Director General’s Representative. Reporters sans frontières / Reporters Without Borders / RSF (RSF)

Session VI: International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists 2024.

4:15 - 5:15 pm

- Ms. Joyce Fernandes, Chief of Radio, Radio Okapi, Democratic Republic of Congo

-Ms. Leyla Mohamed, Editor, Radio Ergo in Somalia

- Mr. Brice Ndangoui, Editor-in-chief of Radio Ndeke Luka, Central African Republic

- Ms. Liemia Eljaili Abubakr, Sudan Media Forum

- Mr. Mustapha Dumbuya, Deputy Director, Journalists for Human Rights (JHR)

5:15 - 5:45 pm. International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists 2024.

- Mr. Issaka Garba Abdou (TBC), Head, Governance and Human Rights Division, African Union

- Mr. Omar Faruk Osman, President, Federation of African Journalists (FAJ)

- Mr. Churchill Otieno, President, The African Editors Forum (TAEF)

è Ms. Rachel Nakitare, International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IWRT)

- Ms. Nompilo Simanje, Africa Advocacy and Partnership Lead, International Press Institute (IPI)

5:45 - 6:00 pm. Conference Wrap up and Key takeaways.

Sylvie Coudray, Director for Freedom of Expression, Media and Information Literacy and Media Development, UNESCO HQ

African Union Representative.

International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists 2024

Agenda Programme of the International Day to End Impunity for C rimes Against Journalists 2024.

9:10 - 9:50 am - Opening Ceremony and High Level Speeches

- H.E. Dr Monique Nsanzabaganwa (TBC), Deputy Chairperson, African Union Commission

- Dr. Jelassi Tawfik, Assistant Director General, Communication and Information, UNESCO

Set-the- Scene Introductory Remarks

- Mr. Omar Faruk Osman, President, Federation of African Journalists (FAJ)

- Ms. Anne Soy, BBC Africa Deputy Editor and Senior Correspondent