Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated the call for justice for journalists across the globe on International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists.
He vowed to continue protecting and promoting the rights of a free press and the safety of journalists in a Nov. 2 post on Twitter.
“No member of the press should be threatened, harassed, attacked, arrested or killed for doing their job," Blinken said on Twitter. "On the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, we vow to continue protecting and promoting the rights of a free press and the safety of journalists."
The UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists was established 10 years ago as a means to protect journalists through legislation, mechanisms and guides meant to create a safe environment for the media, according to a statement by State Department spokesperson Ned Price. However, journalists and others working in the media still face danger everyday online and offline.
More than 1,500 journalists have been killed for doing their job just since the early 90s, the statement said. Harassment, threats and online attacks are also a serious issue for journalists, especially females. According to a UNESCO survey, 73% of women journalists experienced harassment online. Online offenders can often be impossible to identify and nine out of 10 killings of journalists end up going without finding or punishing the perpetrator.
Journalists not only face harassment, but other threats such as censorship. They are also put in jail for simply doing their jobs, according to the statement. As of last December, 294 journalists are in jail according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
